SEOUL: South Korea will withdraw a seven-day quarantine mandate for international unvaccinated arrivals next week, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced on Friday, as part of the country's efforts to return to pre-pandemic normalcy.

International immigrants would still be required to take a PCR test within three days of their entry into South Korea, despite the lifting anticipated for June 8, Han said during a Covid-19 response meeting, according to reports.

The government will also fully normalise the number of international flights and eliminate the curfew for arrivals at Incheon International Airport on the same day, Han added, 26 months after the anti-Covid rules were implemented.  According to the Transport Ministry, the action will increase the number of arriving flights every hour to about 40 from the present 20.

With the spread of Covid-19 under control, the government is lifting pandemic-related restrictions on air travel at a time when demand for international travel is on the rise.

Airline ticket prices have risen as a result of restrictions on the number of international flights and the curfew for arrivals at Incheon International Airport, the Minister said. From 8 p.m. until 5 a.m., no flights are allowed to arrive at the airport.

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