Ready to jet off to Jeju Island and Yangyang? Here’s what you need to know
Pack your bags because we’re finally going to meet our oppas and unnies in South Korea—in Jeju and Yangyang, to be exact.
Starting on June 1, South Korea will resume its visa-free entry to Filipino tourists who wish to jet off to Jeju Island and Yangyang County, Gangwon Province.
Travel reminders in Jeju Island and Yangyang County
Since Pinoys are only allowed to enter Jeju through direct flights and stay for 30 days, some airlines are will add direct flights from the country soon. However, tourists are not permitted to visit other regions in South Korea.
On the other hand, tourists who are planning to visit Yangyang are required to “book a group tour program arranged by a designated travel agency consisting of five or more people.”
Yangyang tourists will be permitted to travel within Gangwon Province and the Seoul Metropolitan Area only.
The Korean Embassy added that tourists jetting off to Yangyang must be vaccinated against COVID-19 and must be on the same flight with their respective tour groups.
To add, Yangyang tourists must fly back to the Philippines through the Yangyang International Airport only.
The Yangyang International Airport is set to accept direct flights from the Clark International Airport in Pampanga starting on June 25. The airport houses the airline company Fly Gangwon, dubbed as South Korea’s “low-cost carrier.”
Health protocols and other important reminders
According to Visit Korea, tourists must provide a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result taken within 48 hours or a Rapid Antigen test result taken within 24 hours before the departure date. A vaccination card is also a must-have requirement.
Tourists are also required to fill out their name, birthday, vaccine type, and vaccine dates on South Korea’s Q-code website before entering.
If you’re planning to enter South Korea through the Incheon International Airport, have your Q-code website information, COVID-19 tests, and vaccination cards ready.
On the other hand, tourists entering South Korea must prepare printed documents of their COVID-19 test results and vaccination card upon entry. The documents should be written in English or Korean only. If your certificate is done in a different language, a Korean translation of an apostille is required.
As soon as you enter South Korea, you're required to wear face masks indoors and at outdoor events with 50 attendants or more. Mask wearing outdoors has been loosened, but many Koreans have reportedly still been wearing their masks for safety reasons.
In a press statement, the Korean Embassy in the Philippines listed below the accredited travel agencies for group tours:
- Ark Travel Express, Inc. - Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City
- Grand Hope Travel, Inc. - SM City Cebu, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City
- Horizon Travel & Tours, Inc. - Ermita, Manila
- Island Resort Club Tour Services, Inc. - G/F Manila Film Center, CCP Complex, Pasay City
- Marsman Drysdale Travel, Inc. - 45/F Philam Life Tower, Paseo De Roxas, Makati City
- Pan Pacific Travel Corporation - Yuchengco Street, Binondo, Manila
- Rajah Travel Corporation - Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City
- Rakso Air Travel and Tours, Inc. - Legaspi Village, Makati City