NOTICE ON REDUCTION OF THE QUARANTINE PERIOD FOR THOSE ENTERING KOREA FROM ABROAD

• Subject: foreign nationals entering Korea

• Period of quarantine: 10 days from the date of entry

• --> Foreign nationals who have to be quarantined for 7 days at a designated facility and 7 days at home (7+7), can now quarantine for 5 days at each place (5+5) – applicable to foreigners from South Africa, Tanzania, Chile, Peru, Myanmar and those without a negative PCR test

• --> Short-term stay foreigners have to undergo a 10-day quarantine at a designated quarantine facility

• Mandatory PCR test the day before being released from quarantine – 9th day of quarantine

• --> Those in quarantine for 7+7 days (at a facility and at home) now only have to do the PCR test on the first day a facility and on the 9th day at a local health centre

• Release from quarantine: on the 11th day at noon, only after a confirmed negative PCR test result

• --> However, those quarantined at a facility, who wish to continue their quarantine there due to difficulties finding a private accommodation, are allowed to quarantine there (at the facility) for 14 days at their own expense (Since the condition for reduction of quarantine period to 10 days is a negative PCR test result, a 14-day quarantine is implemented in case the PCR test was not conducted the day before or the test result is inconclusive)

• This new regulation takes effect from November 1st 2021 onwards.

• --> However, those, who entered Korea before that date, can still be released from quarantine on the 11th day, if they have been in quarantine for more than 9 days and test negative on the 10th day

• --> Those required to quarantine for 7+7 days (at a facility and at home) who already completed 6 days at a facility, can immediately spend the remaining quarantine period at home and do not need to undergo a PCR test in between.