South Korean Government to Stick to Original Quarantine Exemption Plan

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on June 24 that its quarantine exemption for those inoculated with Chinese COVID-19 vaccines will be implemented as scheduled, although the opposite public opinion is increasing.

“These days, the number of confirmed infections is increasing in countries using Chinese and non-Chinese vaccines alike,” the ministry explained, adding, “We are not considering taking different exemption measures depending on the nationality of the vaccine.”

According to the government, the quarantine exemption will be applied from the first day of next month to those fully vaccinated and entering South Korea for business, public, academic, or family-related purposes. The measure will be applied to those inoculated with at least one of the eight COVID-19 vaccines approved by the WHO, which include the Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines and do not include the CanSino, Novavax and CureVac vaccines and the Russian Sputnik V.

“The Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines have already been approved by the WHO and the number of COVID-19 patients is currently increasing with regard to both the Chinese vaccines and those of other countries,” the ministry said.