US Dramatically Lowers South Korea Travel Advisory... From Highest to Lowest Level

Published 19 Apr.2022 14:03(KST)

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The U.S. Department of State has lowered the travel advisory for South Korea from the highest level 4 to the lowest level 1.

According to the U.S. Department of State website on the 18th (local time), the travel advisory for South Korea was downgraded by three levels on that day.

The State Department travel advisories are divided into "Exercise Normal Precautions" (Level 1), "Exercise Increased Caution" (Level 2), "Reconsider Travel" (Level 3), and "Do Not Travel" (Level 4). South Korea's rating, which had been at level 4 until the previous day, unusually dropped to the lowest level within a day.

This contrasts with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which on the same day lowered the COVID-19 travel advisory for South Korea from the highest level 4 to level 3.

The State Department had adjusted travel advisories in line with the CDC's ratings during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, citing the global increase in vaccination rates and a significant reduction in variant risks, it announced on the 14th that it would no longer automatically link its travel advisory levels to the CDC's ratings.

While the CDC travel advisory levels are based on the health impact of diseases such as COVID-19, the State Department's travel advisories comprehensively reflect not only health but also factors such as terrorism, public safety, and political and economic conditions in the respective countries.

The State Department's announcement of the rating adjustment may have been influenced by the fact that although the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea remains very high, the spread is slowing down, and restrictions such as post-arrival quarantine requirements for vaccinated travelers have been lifted.

However, the State Department did not specify the exact reasons for the dramatic downgrade to level 1 for South Korea on that day, leading to some puzzled reactions after the downgrade notice was posted on the website.