COVID 19 - Advisory Korea

Updated as of January 11th, 2020.

KOTRA launched a logistics service to assist small and medium-sized companies in assuring distribution in the context of the global pandemic. Any SMEs, including foreign-invested companies, which find difficulty in establishing their own distribution centers overseas to import products in Korea (including sourcing import of raw and subsidiary materials) can jointly use warehouse of local KOTRA partner logistics companies.

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The outbreak of the virus has disturbed significantly the transport & logistics operations worldwide and in Asia. In China, most freight services (airports, ports and trucking) have recovered as Bolloré Logistics reports, but the price has increased significantly. In Korea, all ports, airports and customs office are operational, but the situation remains very tight with increasing rates for air freight with Europe and the USA. Bolloré Logistics also reports regarding sea freight that total lead time of the vessel is getting longer due to added sailing port without prior notice, but terminal congestion has been more and more stabilizing. Regarding global air freight, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released a platform to help companies have updated information on a daily basis on cargo operations available here. Upon entry at Incheon Airport, a sanitary checkpoint is put in place.

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Restrictions to travelers from Korea

As of August 21st, 154 countries have forbidden entry from Korea, including countries like Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan or Singapore. Other countries restrain arrival or put in place sanitary control or quarantine of persons traveling from Korea. Quarantine measures were adopted in the USA, Japan and most Chinese provinces. 

From March 17th, the French president also announced the closing of external borders of the European Union, however the European council adopted on June 30th a recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU as referred here. It is still advised to French residents in Korea to stay in Korea. To that end, extensions of visas (such as PVTs) are granted.

For more information in French, refer to the French Embassy web page.

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For more information in English, refer to the National Association of Air Transportation.

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For more information in Korean, refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Entry in Korea

For travelers wishing to go to Korea, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lowered the alert for travelers to "green" on October 29th. 

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All inbound travelers are required to undergo a 2 weeks self-quarantine. Foreign residents should also apply for a re-entry permit and medical examination prior to reentry. Additionally, from January 8th, all foreign residents going or returning to Korea are required to present negative PCR test results within 72 hours prior to departure, in English or officially translated to Korean.  After entry in Korea, quarantine conditions remain unchanged, meaning another PCR test need to be taken within 72 hours upon return. After the 14 days of quarantine, if the local authorities assess the person is still at risk, it could require a third PCR test. If not considered at risk, the third PCR test is not obligatory.

Quarantine exemptions are not granted anymore for urgent business trips or other reasons since the implementation of the 2.5 social distancing scheme.

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For some countries (Japan, Singapore, China, Indonesia), Korea also signed fast track agreements to facilitate business trips.

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