Foreign travel is possible again with quarantines waived

Travelers line up to check into flights at Incheon International Airport on Monday. A new rule exempting vaccinated inbound travelers from a seven-day quarantine went into effect the same day. [YONHAP]

Ms. Hong, 33, had everything planned for her honeymoon to Jeju Island: the plane tickets, itinerary, accommodations. Like many other couples in Korea, Hong would have preferred to go to an exotic foreign country. However, the week-long quarantine she and her husband would have to endure on their return was a deal-breaker.

Jeju Island, located off the southern tip of Korea’s mainland, involved no such quarantines, making it a top travel destination for Korean newlyweds during the Covid-19 pandemic.

But after health authorities announced last week that travelers arriving in Korea from abroad won’t have to quarantine if they are fully vaccinated, many future brides and grooms say they’re scrapping Jeju honeymoons for more adventure.

The new rule went into effect Monday.

“I think now’s really the chance,” says Hong, who canceled the Jeju reservations and has her eyes on Hawaii.

“I’m still worried because there are so many variables, like I don’t know if things may change again,” says Hong. “But at the same time, I’m really excited because I can go overseas like in the old days.”

To qualify for a quarantine exemption, inbound travelers need proof of three vaccine shots, or two with the second being administered fewer than 180 days prior to entry. For the single-shot Janssen vaccine, it also must have been administered within 180 days. If 180 or more days have passed since a traveler completed their vaccination series, a booster shot will be needed.

The vaccines accepted are from Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Novavax, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Covaxin and Covishield.

A week-long quarantine is still required for travelers from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Myanmar due to the rapid spread of the coronavirus in each of those countries, health officials said. From April 1, travelers from Pakistan and Uzbekistan won’t have to quarantine, but Vietnam will be newly added to the list.

Local travel agencies say they’re inundated with calls from soon-to-be-married couples.

One agent told the JoongAng Ilbo that bookings for overseas tour packages increased by three-fold last week compared to the week before. Most inquiries have been about honeymoons and golf programs, the agent added.

Another travel agency worker agreed that calls about foreign travel were surging, but quickly added there were still many people concerned about the Omicron risks.

“There’s definitely a dilemma here,” she said. “There’s a huge interest in overseas travel now that the government has gotten rid of the quarantine requirement, but as the Omicron variant continues to sweep across the world, I think people are wondering whether it’s really okay to take the trip.”

BY LEE SUNG-EUN, HAM MIN-JUNG [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]