In a further boost to the nation’s foreigner-only casino industry, South Korea will remove a mandatory hotel quarantine requirement for unvaccinated international visitors from today, 8 June 2022.
Newly appointed Prime Minister Han Duck-soo told a pandemic response meeting of the latest easing of COVID-19 border measures late last week, according to Reuters, stating, “While there was a 7-day quarantine obligation for non-vaccinated foreign arrivals until now, such requirement will be eliminated from June 8 regardless of their vaccination status.”
Unvaccinated travelers will, however, still need to provide negative PCR test results obtained both within 72 hours of arrival and another upon landing.
South Korea will also lift flight restrictions at Incheon International Airport in order to ensure flights can operate more efficiently, with the previous restrictions blamed for a lack of available tickets and high prices.
The decision to ease the quarantine requirement for unvaccinated travelers comes into effect just one week after South Korea resumed the issuance of tourist visas for the first time in more than two years from 1 June. The justice ministry had stated that welcoming back tourists was vital to boosting the nation’s economy.