HEALTH REGULATIONS

Before visiting South Korea you may need to get the following vaccinations or take the following precautions. It is best to seek medical advice as your individual health and your planned activities will be a factor. Seek advice 4-6 weeks before travel.

Required Vaccinations

• There are no vaccinations required for entry to South Korea.

Routine and Recommended Vaccinations and Medications

• It is recommended that passengers are up to date on routine vaccinations including diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), polio, shingles, varicella (chickenpox), and yearly flu shots.
• A hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for passengers aged 6 months and older. Passengers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months are advised to receive a single dose of immune globulin.
• A hepatitis B vaccination is recommended.
• A Japanese Encephalitis vaccination is recommended for passengers travelling frequently or staying for more than a month in areas with Japanese encephalitis. Vaccination is also advised for passengers visiting rural areas, hiking or camping, or staying in places without air conditioning, screens, or bed nets.
• Malaria is a risk in South Korea. Passengers who are travelling to certain areas may need to take anti-malarial medication. For further information, please visit Malaria in South Korea.
• A rabies vaccination is recommended only for passengers working directly with wildlife.
• A typhoid vaccination is recommended for most passengers, especially those staying with friends or relatives, or visiting smaller cities or rural areas.

General Advice

• Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is present in South Korea. Passengers are advised to avoid bug bites.
• Leptospirosis is present in South Korea. Passengers are advised to avoid contaminated water and soil.
• Avian/bird flu is present in South Korea. Passengers are advised to avoid domestic and wild poultry.
• Hantavirus is present in South Korea. Passengers are advised to avoid rodents and areas where they live, and to avoid sick people.
• Tuberculosis is present in South Korea. Passengers are advised to avoid sick people.

For more detailed information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).