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NEWS | Nov. 5, 2021

USFK removes IR-based travel restrictions

By USFK Public Affairs

Effective immediately, due to increased vaccination rates among USFK-affiliated and ROK populations, and to better align with the ROK government’s “Living with COVID-19” initiatives, USFK is removing all existing travel restrictions within the ROK for its affiliated communities. Future travel restrictions will now be implemented the USFK Component Commands to mitigate risk to their formations; please see your or your sponsor’s chain of command/supervisor on how this change in policy affects you.

USFK will continue to update the COVID-19 interactive map - located at USFK.mil - on a weekly basis for component commands and individuals to identify where the incidence rate exceeds 50.

USFK’s established standards mirrors the DOD’s substantial transmission threshold definition of an incidence rate that exceeds 50 confirmed cases per 100,000 people for a seven day cumulative rate when applied to approximately 230 Korean districts across the peninsula.

If an installation falls within a Korean district where the IR is greater than or equal to 50, mandatory mask wear is required indoors on post regardless of vaccination status; this includes but is not limited to post/base exchanges, commissary, taxis and buses, church and other religious gatherings and services, restaurants except when actively eating, banks, libraries, etc. 

Additionally, installation commanders can be more restrictive on mandating mask wear at indoor facilities regardless of the IR. 

As a reminder, saunas, bathhouses, karaoke establishments, off-installation gyms and any other establishments which restrict entry to adults only are off-limits to all unvaccinated USFK-affiliated personnel.

An individual is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after completing the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty / Pfizer-BioNTech / Moderna) or two weeks after receiving a single dose of Johnson & Johnson / Janssen. 

All unvaccinated individuals will observe mandatory mask wear at all indoor USFK facilities, at all times, regardless of the local IR.

All USFK arrivals undergoing Health Monitoring Status must continue to follow all requirements, including mandatory indoor mask wear, until the completion of HMS. 

The USFK community must continue to follow all South Korean laws, rules and directives - including ROK social distancing levels and mask wear when off USFK installations - and adhere to USFK core tenets both on and off-installation.

USFK remains at a high level of readiness, and continues to maintain a robust combined defense posture to protect the Republic of Korea against any threat or adversary while implementing and maintaining prudent preventive control measures to protect the force.

Core Tenets Infographic