By Kim Eun-young and Kim Hayeon 

Long-term expats in Korea with a record of COVID-19 infection from April 11 will be exempt from submitting a negative result from a PCR test when returning from aboard.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters on April 4 said the exemption will be expanded from Koreans returning from overseas trips to long-term foreign residents with records of COVID-19 infection in Korea. 

Such residents will no longer have to submit a negative result from a PCR test if they present an alien registration or permanent resident card, certificate of domestic residence in Korea and notice of isolation that verifies their history of coronavirus infections.  

The infection date on the notice must be within 10-40 days of the departure date.
In the case of Korean nationals, notices of quarantine and certificates of release from quarantine obtained overseas are accepted. 

For foreign residents of Korea, however, only records confirming domestic infections will be recognized to block the spread of confirmed cases from overseas.

The headquarters said, "Foreign nationals released from isolation after being infected in Korea can face fewer restrictions caused by the required submission of a negative PCR test result for entry into the country."

eykim86@korea.kr