Seoul, South Korea: To better facilitate access to COVID-19 testing and improve convenience for individuals entering from abroad, the Central Disease Control Headquarters of Korea will accept negative test results for either Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests taken within the last 48 hours or Supervised Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) taken in the last 24 hours, starting from May 23rd.
Moreover, the requirement for PCR testing, which currently must be taken on the arrival date, will be relaxed to within 3 days from the arrival date, and the requirement for RAT testing within 6-7 days from arrival, which currently is mandatory, will only be recommended, starting on June 1st.
1. Individuals without symptoms
Negative confirmation must be supervised by healthcare professionals
Fully vaccinated within Korea: individuals who have completed their second shot requirement or have taken their third (booster) shot after the second shot in Korea as of the entry date, can provide evidence of their vaccination history.
Individuals between ages 12-17: regarded as complete after 14 days from the second shot; Individuals below age 12: regarded as complete when accompanied by a guardian who is fully vaccinated
Fully vaccinated from abroad: individuals who have completed their second shot requirement or have taken their third (booster) shot after the second shot from abroad as of the entry date, who can provide evidence of their vaccination history
Individuals in between ages 12-17: regarded as complete after 14 days from the second shot; Individuals below age 12: regarded as complete when accompanied by a guardian who is fully vaccinated
Entry of individuals aged 6 or above: Must submit negative test confirmation (PCR or RAT)
2. Individuals with symptoms
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Testing Process (Individuals without symptoms who do not have a letter of quarantine exemption)
– Koreans / Long-term stay foreigners shall be tested at public health clinics
– Short-term stay foreigners shall be tested at the COVID-19 Test Center at Incheon Airport or medical centres when they are fully vaccinated inside or outside of Korea but tested at the temporary living facility when they are not fully vaccinated.
In consideration of the vaccination recommendation guidelines of Korea, the criteria for vaccination completion are relaxed for individuals aged below 18 and quarantine is exempted for individuals aged below 12.
Individuals aged between 12-17 are regarded as completely vaccinated 14 days from the date of the second shot as a third (booster) shot is recommended only for a limited proportion of this population. The quarantine exemption applied to individuals aged below age 6 will be expanded to those aged below 12 when they are accompanied by fully vaccinated guardians as the basic shot series (two shots) is recommended only for a limited proportion of this population aged between 5-11.
The Central Disease Control Headquarters of Korea urges “all individuals entering Korea to fully comply with the relevant procedures, including the pre-entry tests, to prevent new viral variants from coming into Korea, while Korea gradually improves the international arrival entry system in line with the post-omicron response plan.”