As of today, travellers to South Korea will no longer have to take a Covid-19 test prior to boarding their flight.
A post-arrival test is, however, still required, national news agency Yonhap reported.
The test will be applicable to all Koreans and foreign nationals regardless of vaccination status.
Once they have arrived, all travellers must take a PCR test within one day of landing at the airport.
Peck Kyong-ran, commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said the pre-arrival Covid-19 test requirement could be reinstated if the Covid situation deteriorates.
Over the past week South Korea has recorded a reduced number of around 90,000 cases on average a day, Travel Mole reported. Cases peaked at 180,000 a day in mid-August
South Korea is among the Asian region’s last economies to hold onto strict border controls, though China, which has an ultra-strict “zero Covid” strategy, Japan and Taiwan continue to impose extensive barriers.
Other Asian countries including Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia have lifted testing requirements in recent months as the region welcomes back travel after relying heavily on border restrictions earlier in the pandemic.
South Korea lifted quarantine requirements for vaccinated tourists in April and dropped quarantine for all arrivals regardless of vaccination status in July.
Tourists have been slow to return, however, with passenger traffic at main gateway Incheon Airport in July reaching less than one-quarter of pre-pandemic levels.
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