Foreign Office warns UK tourists to complete questionnaire or face £5,729 fine

UK tourists who don't agree to be "screened" in a Far East holiday hotspot face fines. If they do not adhere to health screening requirements in South Korea, they could be landed with a hefty fine, the Foreign Office has warned UK tourists.

"The UK is currently designated as a ‘Quarantine Inspection Required Area’ by South Korea," the Foreign Office said. "Travellers arriving in South Korea from ‘Quarantine Inspection Required Areas’ (including those who have transited in a ‘Quarantine Inspection Required Area’) need to submit a health questionnaire, either through the pre-entry Q-Code system or by completing a paper-based questionnaire on arrival in South Korea.

"Failure to complete required health screenings could result in a fine of up to KRW 10 million." KRW 10 million is equal to around £5,729. The Foreign office in the UK also advised holidaymakers to "check the list of Quarantine Inspection Required Areas and Q-Code submission process prior to travel".

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British nationals do not need a visa for a visit to South Korea of up to 90 days. You must have an onward or return ticket. It’s illegal to be employed in South Korea while visiting visa-free, whether as a teacher or in any other capacity.

South Korea operates an electronic travel authorisation system called K-ETA. Anyone eligible for visa-free entry to South Korea is usually required to get K-ETA approval before departure. However, British nationals travelling visa-free to South Korea are temporarily exempt from requiring a K-ETA until December 31, 2024.

If you need to apply for a K-ETA, you should ensure that you apply through the Korean government’s official K-ETA website. Other sites offering K-ETA application services are generally scams. It can take up to 72 hours for K-ETA approval to be granted.

For those in South Korea on a work visa, all employment changes must be authorised by Korean Immigration.