The summer of 2021 is definitely going to be different from last summer.

Overseas travel is opened for vaccinated people, and it is possible to enter the country without self-quarantine, so how is it different?

A family of 4 travel to Southeast Asia, is it possible this summer?

Let's leave safely 'Travel Bubble'


The government is planning to sign a 'travel bubble (travel safety zone)' agreement with some countries next month to exempt overseas travelers from quarantine. The government's travel bubble agreement aims to exempt each other from the obligation to quarantine after entering the other country or returning to Korea. Currently, countries around the world, including Korea, impose a two-week quarantine obligation for 'visiting for general travel', but travel bubble users can tour immediately without separate isolation. However, this is a limited measure between countries where mutual trust in quarantine has been secured. The government is currently discussing the implementation of a travel bubble with a total of seven countries and regions. Of these, specific discussions are underway with five of them: Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Guam, and Saipan. Negotiations are also underway with Australia and Israel, but progress is slow compared to the other five. Those who have been vaccinated as early as July are expected to be able to go on group overseas trips to these countries without self-isolation.









Then, is it possible to travel to Southeast Asia with a family of four this summer? The answer depends on the composition of the family, but it is 'difficult' if you are traveling with small children. In order to be exempted from quarantine, a 'certificate' that the second vaccination has been completed must be presented to the other country, because middle school students and preschoolers in Korea cannot receive the 'certificate' as they are not subject to vaccination. Parents who have been vaccinated are exempt from quarantine, but since children cannot avoid quarantine, it is virtually difficult to travel as a family.



So can vaccinated adults freely buy plane tickets and travel? That's not necessarily the case either. Instead of being exempted from self-isolation, the way they travel is limited. The travel bubble does not apply to individual travel. The government is still judging that quarantine management is difficult in the case of individual travel. Therefore, the first type of overseas travel allowed will be 'group travel using direct flights'. Aircraft can only be used on direct flights between Korea and the national airlines of the other countries.




In addition, the 'exclusive quarantine manager' designated by the travel agency that planned the travel product manages the quarantine during the trip.

They regularly measure the body temperature of tourists and manage and supervise them so that they can finish their trip safely by checking their movement.

In principle, separate 'personal movement' is not permitted other than the designated travel route.



The types of vaccines recognized by the countries subject to the travel bubble may be different from those of Korea. Is there any problem?

AstraZeneca accounts for 60% of domestic vaccinations, but it is not introduced in Singapore and Saipan, Guam.

However, the types of vaccines that can be exempted from self-isolation are constantly changing through intergovernmental consultations.

U.S. territory of Guam, which exempted self-quarantine only for those vaccinated against three types of vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna and Janssen, decided to exempt those vaccinated against AstraZeneca upon arrival.

Saipan is expected to issue the same executive order soon.




Countries you can go to if you get a 'vaccine' without a bubble

Even if you are not in a travel bubble, you can still travel without self-quarantine in some countries if you have been vaccinated.

However, in order to be exempt from self-quarantine when returning home, you must leave the country after completing vaccinations in Korea.

Vaccines received abroad are not yet recognized when returning from a regular trip.

Vaccines that require two doses, such as AstraZeneca and Pfizer, are required to leave the country 14 days after completing the two doses in Korea to meet the requirements.

In this case, instead of self-quarantine, they undergo 'active monitoring' to check symptoms and proceed with testing.



(Circumstances may vary by country) The



US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is exempting self-quarantine measures for those who have been vaccinated. If two weeks have passed since two doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after receiving one dose of Janssen vaccine, exemptions apply. However, the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is popular with Koreans, may not be exempted depending on the state. In the United States, where laws vary by state, quarantine measures may vary by region, so be sure to check the policy of the state you are going to before departure.



Switzerland and Turkey exempt self-quarantine for those vaccinated. France exempts Koreans from self-quarantine regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not, but those who are not vaccinated must submit a corona-negative certificate issued within 3 days of departure. Vaccines are not required to self-quarantine without a negative test. In the Netherlands, Koreans can enter the country without self-quarantine regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not. You do not need a corona-negative certificate, you just need to submit a health status confirmation.



In addition, Germany, Greece, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Poland, and Spain are exempting Koreans from self-quarantine under certain conditions. Since entry measures in each country change frequently, it is recommended to check the entry conditions through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the website of the diplomatic mission of the country you are traveling to before leaving the country.



The case of China is a little different.

If a person vaccinated from China enters Korea, self-quarantine in Korea is exempted, but if a person vaccinated from Korea returns to China, they must isolate.

People who go to Korea from China and then return to China must also be quarantined.

The current mandatory quarantine in China is three weeks.



Click ▶ Ministry of Foreign Affairs Overseas Safety Homepage

I want to go 'to Korea'

You and I, "Let's go to Korea"


Among Koreans, expatriates and their families, and international students who were hesitant to enter Korea due to the '2-week self-quarantine', the number of people who want to take a flight to Korea to meet their loved ones is increasing rapidly.

Let's look at the conditions for exemption from self-quarantine in this case.




(The target countries for mutated countries are determined by consultation with the relevant ministries every month according to the international spread of the mutated virus.)





Self-quarantine exemption applies to those who have been vaccinated and come to Korea to visit their immediate family members, such as direct descendants and descendants of themselves and their spouses.

If you submit an application for exemption from quarantine, a pledge, and a certificate of vaccination to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or a diplomatic mission overseas, a quarantine exemption letter will be issued after review.

When overseas Koreans enter Korea to visit their immediate family, they must also present a family relationship certificate.

When entering Korea from abroad, a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or death certificate can be submitted instead of a family relationship certificate.

If you are applying for exemption from quarantine for major business reasons such as business, you can apply to the Immigration Comprehensive Support Center.



Click ▶ Immigration Support Center



So, can I enter Korea immediately after receiving a self-quarantine waiver?

Don't forget the corona test.


Confused self-isolation exemption Q&A

Q. Who is the 'Corona 19 Vaccination Completion'?

Exemption applies if two weeks have elapsed since the recommended number of vaccinations for each vaccine in the same country have been all vaccinated.

Those who were vaccinated twice, the first in country A and the second in country B, do not fall under this.

Those who have received only the first dose are not exempt from the 2nd vaccination.

Q. How about children accompanying their parents?

Children under the age of 6 who enter the country with their parents who have completed vaccination are exempt from quarantine even if they do not have an immunization certificate.

It was judged that the minimum age required for parental protection and special measures were taken.

If you are over 6 years old, even minors accompanied by their parents are subject to self-quarantine unless they meet the requirements.

Q. Does it matter what type of vaccine was inoculated?

The standard for the vaccine is whether it has been urgently approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The vaccines that have been urgently approved by the WHO so far are Pfizer, Janssen, Moderna, AstraZeneca (AZ), Kobishield (AZ-India Serum Research Institute), Sinopharm, and Sinovac.

I want to go back to my daily routine.

What if I got the vaccine?

enjoy freedom and benefits




Vaccine marketing is active not only in the government, but also in local governments and the leisure industry.

From June, the inoculation will be exempted from admission to the National Park Ecological Visitor Experience Program and National Recreational Forest.

This applies not only to those who have been vaccinated, but also to those who have received the first dose.

Popular cultural heritage viewing programs such as Changdeokgung Moonlight Tour and Gyeongbokgung Starlight Night Tour are even organized for inoculations.

Starting in June, you can receive a 20,000 won discount on the Temple Stay program held at 135 temples across the country.


Hotels also offer great discounts.

Millennium Hilton Seoul announced a half-price discount event for up to 4 people including those who were vaccinated until June.

Conrad Seoul is also offering a 30% discount on the Tuesday-Thursday buffet until July 31st.

Courtyard Seoul Times Square is offering a 31,000 won breakfast for 100 won to guests using a room package until July 11.

Benefits are also provided to guests accompanying the inoculated person.

Lotteria will hold a discount event for those who have been vaccinated until the 7th of next month.

About 30% discount on 5 popular menu items will be offered to customers who present their vaccination certificate.

In what time period will AstraZeneca vaccine recipients benefit?


60% of those vaccinated in Korea are AstraZeneca vaccines. In some cases, benefits are provided even if only the first vaccine is received, but the main benefits such as overseas travel are based on those who have completed the second vaccination. high. This is especially true because there was no choice in the type of vaccine when receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. For AstraZeneca vaccine, the recommended interval between the first and second doses is 11 to 12 weeks. The AstraZeneca vaccine is known to be most effective when the second dose is given 12 weeks after the first dose, so the recommended interval between vaccinations has been increased from 8 weeks to 10 weeks, and then one more time to 12 weeks.



The 760,000 people who received the AstraZeneca vaccine two months ago will get the Pfizer vaccine in the second dose, as the government announced that it is okay to get a different company's vaccine when receiving two doses of the coronavirus (so-called 'cross-vaccination'). (However, you can receive the same AstraZeneca vaccine if you wish) Even in this case, the interval between vaccinations is 11-12 weeks as the standard for the first vaccination.






However, if you want to advance the second dose of AstraZeneca vaccine for personal reasons such as vacation, you can do it in 8 weeks. It can be advanced by ~7 weeks.

The government plans to establish a system that can change the date of the second vaccination, etc., and operate it from the middle of this month at the earliest.



As of the current standards, AstraZeneca vaccine recipients are between 30 and 74 years of age, and even if the first dose was administered on May 27, the second dose was usually given in mid-August, so that the benefit of completing the vaccine would not be available until early September.

On the other hand, with Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, even if you receive the first dose in mid-June, the interval between the second doses is short, so you can enjoy plenty of 'freedom' by the end of July.



For those under the age of 40 who receive the first vaccine in August, if they receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, it is virtually impossible to be exempt from self-isolation or to travel abroad within this year.

(The general public under the age of 50 will decide which vaccine to receive depending on the supply and demand situation at that time.)

Residual Vaccine, Here

's How Successful People Get Residual Vaccination Tips


As the number of people who received the vaccine increased one by one and the benefits for those who were vaccinated increased, the battle for reservations for the remaining vaccines became more intense.

In particular, people under the age of 60 cannot make reservations by phone, and can only reserve residual vaccines through Naver or Kakao Talk, increasing the number of people who cannot take their eyes off their mobile phones even while working at the company.

You can apply for a notification that the remaining vaccine is out, but it is often 'closed' already while you turn on the phone screen and press the button.

As the battle for reservations for residual vaccines intensifies, tips for reservations are being shared online.

“It’s easier to go to a pediatrician or obstetrics and gynecology department,” and “The golden hour is from 1:30 pm to 2:00 pm, when the hospital lunch break ends.”

A specialist who vaccinates said, 'It is a luxury to think about the type of vaccine and the location of the vaccination.

The only thing you can choose is whether it will fit your right arm or your left arm.”



What if I hit a 'poor' after refreshing my eyes today?



(Composition: Senior Correspondent Lee Hyun-sik, Reporter Jang Seon-i, Kim Hwi-ran Editor / Designer: Myung Ha-eun, Lee Ji-soo)