South Korea issuing high-tech vaccine passport

Last update: November 15th, 2021.

South Korea has launched its own COVID passport, incorporating state-of-the-art blockchain technology to ensure optimal safety and security to its users.

A surge in new daily cases since July has also led to a massive demand for vaccines but thanks to a high vaccination rate, the death toll remains low.

The country has met its initial goal of a 70% vaccination rate and the vaccine certificate in Korea has paved the way towards easing social distancing measures.

Business hours have been extended and restrictions on restaurants and gatherings have been eased since November 1st.

How do COVID certificates work in Korea?

Korea launched the COOV app earlier in the year, deriving its name from the phrase “COVID overcome”. The app is now used in the “Living with COVID” campaign.

The app is available on the App Store and Google Play Store. Vaccinated individuals can still collect a physical Korean vaccine certificate from the clinic where they get vaccinated.

The app generates a unique QR code that will confirm vaccination status as well as how long it has been since receiving doses.

COOV was created by Blockchain Labs, and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) adopted the app for official use.

The KDCA vaccine certificate and app are free of charge and the app stores all the user’s information in the most secure way possible using blockchain technology.

“All the data will be stored in the person’s mobile device… The data exchange is done between the visitor and the host through blockchain. So you leave no trace of where you have gone and the passport holders have full control of their data,” explains Ace Shim, the technical lead at Blockchain Labs.

South Korea’s ‘Living with COVID’ strategy

Korea has surpassed its goal of vaccinating 70% of the population and has subsequently eased a variety of social distancing measures.

Since November 1st, businesses can operate 24 hours a day once more.

High-risk venues will now also require the South Korean vaccine passport, showing full vaccination or a recent negative PCR test.

High-risk facilities include bars, saunas, and gyms. Unvaccinated people will also not be allowed to buy confectionery at the cinema or sports events and these snacks can only be sold and consumed in the designated “vaccine zones”.

“The return path to everyday life, to which we’re taking the first step today, is a path we’ve never been on,” said Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol.

Outdoor sporting events can now continue with 50% capacity. Music events and concerts can also be attended by up to 100 people, vaccinated and unvaccinated.

Up to 10 people can gather nationwide but inside restaurants and cafes, no more than 4 unvaccinated people can gather.

Previous rules at gyms included a limit on treadmill speeds and a ban on certain group classes. These rules have since been lifted.

South Korea has not been under a formal lockdown since the start of the pandemic but has instead implemented strict border control.

The easing of measurements is the beginning of Korea’s systematic reopening strategy and the country aims to remove all measures early in 2022.

Officials have confirmed that vaccine passport regulations will be adjusted as the healthcare system becomes more strained and they will not be looking at daily infection rates.

Can I travel to South Korea with my local COVID certificate?

Travel to South Korea is allowed under certain circumstances. Proof of vaccination is required as well as negative PCR results. Another PCR test must be taken upon landing.

Travelers can apply for quarantine exemption but various travel corridors have been set up to allow for quarantine free travel for vaccinated travelers.

The most prominent travel bubble is between South Korea and Singapore but unvaccinated travelers must still quarantine for 10 days.

Negative PCR results are a must for all travelers and only Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Moderna, Covishield, and Sinopharm/Sinovac vaccines are accepted.

Passengers from the following countries cannot apply for quarantine exemption and must undergo quarantine regardless of their vaccination status:

Most visa exemption agreements have been suspended until further notice and travel is only allowed for specific purposes.

Is it safe to travel to South Korea now? COVID-19 statistics

A surge in cases since July has led to a peak infection rate of 3273 new cases on September 25th.

Since then, the number of new cases has still remained relatively high and 2418 new cases were reported on November 14th, bringing the total number of infections to 397,466.

The death toll has remained low throughout and 3,115 people have died by mid-November.

Close to 100 million vaccine doses have been administered in South Korea and more than 77% of the population is fully vaccinated.