Update as of April 25, 2022
South Korea no longer does contact trace. However, registering your COVID-19 vaccines remains important for residents of South Korea.
Updated as of March 26, 2022
Many international residents arriving in South Korea wish to register their vaccines with the Korean government. Here is a detailed look at the process.
Listen to the BlogCast
Don’t want to read? Listen to the South of Seoul BlogCast which provides accessible content through the use of AI technology. We don’t have time to read each article but we do our best to make more of our content accessible. If you would like to join our Accessibility Team apply to volunteer with South of Seoul. Please note that the pronunciation of some Korean words may be inaccurate due to AI technology’s limitations.
DISCLAIMER
The information provided below is based on current COVID-19 policies implemented by the South Korean government. Please keep in mind, any and all information in this blog is subject to change in conjunction with government policy changes. SOS Public Health, and South of Seoul as a whole, does its best to stay updated on current policies to keep information on our blogs as well-informed as possible. However, keeping up with policies change can be difficult.
As you are reading through this blog, if you have additional information not included here, please let us know by:
- Emailing PublicHealth@SouthofSeoul.Net or
- Facebook: Send SOS Public Health a Facebook message
After confirming the information, we make updates accordingly.
Background: COVID Vaccination Verifications and South Korea
As many in our multinational community experience, life around the world continues to be restricted due to the COVID pandemic. Global vaccination rates have gone up. However, not all countries have a consistent way of verifying vaccination status.
South Korea uses a digital vaccination verification system (COOV) to confirm vaccination status. Once vaccinated in Korea, your vaccination status becomes tied to your Korean identity number. For our international community, such a number exists on your Foreign Registration Card (FRC) (formerly known as Alien Registration Card [ARC]). Once your vaccine becomes linked to your FRC, you can utilize COOV – Korea’s digital vaccine verification system.
In countries such as the United States, each state has its own verification process. Each state’s processes differ from one another. Some states accept a CDC vaccination card. Others accept various types of digital verification. Concerns about forgery with the CDC vaccine cards have been brought up globally as well.
As of early December 2021, the Korean government now allows registration of overseas vaccinations. Such discrepancies as those mentioned above may make verifying overseas vaccines a bit tricky. Previously, the South Korean government was hesitant to allow overseas vaccinations to be registered within South Korea. Such hesitancy caused serious issues with equity and equality within South Korea. Under pressure from international residents, South Korea changed its foreign vaccine registration policy.
Why should I register my overseas COVID vaccination in South Korea?
Registering your overseas vaccination in South Korea can open up so many possibilities for traveling and exploring Korea. Many establishments require vaccination in order to enter. Such businesses include:
- restaurants
- cafes
- gyms
- cinemas
- saunas
- bars
Additionally, the previously listed businesses are only permitted to accept vaccines registered in Korea. That means you will need to register your foreign vaccine with a local public health center. For US military, you may also use Form 49 in place of registering your vaccination. Form 49 can be issued by your command.
Once your vaccine is registered in Korea, your access to these facilities across South Korea will increase.
According to the Korean government, if you register your overseas vaccination in Korea, you also become eligible to receive the COVID booster shot.
Who can register an overseas COVID vaccination in South Korea?
According to the KDCA call center, in order to register your overseas vaccination in South Korea, you must:
- have completed both doses (or one dose if vaccinated with Janssen) of a WHO-approved COVID vaccine. The most common vaccines used in Korea include (1) Pfizer, (2) Moderna, and (3) Janssen.
- provide proof of vaccination. To find out what qualifies as proof of vaccination based on your country, you can call 1339 to confirm. The 1339 COVID call center has English language support from 9am-6pm. Instructions on how to reach the English service provided in this blog.
- be physically present in South Korea. Korea doesn’t currently have systems in place for registering overseas vaccinations remotely.
Are there any restrictions for who can register their overseas vaccines?
When asked about whether restrictions for certain countries exist for registering overseas vaccines, the KDCA call center representative replied that none exist (Phone interview conducted with the KCDA). If you have been completely vaccinated past the two-week-post-second-dose mark, you have eligibility regardless of your nationality.
Where do I go to register my overseas COVID vaccination in South Korea?
You can register your overseas vaccinations at any local public health center (보건소 [bo geon so]). Simply copy and paste ‘보건소’ into Naver Maps or Kakao Maps to find one near you.
The public health centers are also where individuals go to get COVID tested. Do not enter the COVID testing area. Find the main entrance to the building and head inside. Each public health center has a different layout. Have a translation app such as Papago or Google Translate open in case you need to ask for assistance finding the correct desk.
IMPORTANT NOTE
All public health centers in Korea abide by the KDCA’s COVID policies. However, each public health center may interpret the policies differently from other public health facilities. This means that the information listed below may vary slightly depending on which public health center you visit. For example, one may require you to have a Foreign Registration Number and another may accept a passport as identification.
For best results, call your public health center to ask what they require before going in to register for your vaccine. Ask your employer to help if needed.
What documents do I need to bring with me to register my overseas COVID vaccination in South Korea?
In order to register your overseas vaccination you will need two things:
- There are two ways to register your vaccine recieved overseas: a) Your Foreign Registration Card (FRC) and b) your passport. If you register using your FRC and have a phone linked to your FRC card you will have access to the COOV app soon after registering. If you apply with your passport and not an FRC, you will be issued a paper certificate.
- Proof of vaccination from the country where you received your vaccination. Proof of vaccination(s) must include:
- Your name
- Your birth date
- Type of vaccination received
- Date of vaccination
- Clinic name where you received your vaccination
- ***Some Korean public health centers require an offical verification stamp. To find out whether your health center requires this, call your health center prior to visiting to double check.
Parents please note: Children must be present when registering their vaccinations.
For additional questions on what qualifies as proof of vaccination based on your country, call 1339 to confirm. Instructions on how to reach the English service provided in this blog.
If you do not have an FRC (which is common among our U.S. Military community), you may want to consider applying for one at your local immigration office. Here is a blog for US Military associated people interested in FRC cards.
How do I register my overseas COVID vaccination in South Korea?
To register your overseas vaccination in Korea, follow the steps below:
Step 1:
Call your local public health center (보건소) to make an appointment. Many residents have reported that they were able to walk-in and complete registration. However, the KDCA recommends that you make an appointment prior to going. Calling your public health center provides an opportunity to ask for any additional required documentation.
Step 2:
Prepare the two required documents listed in the section above. If registering your whole family, provide documents for each individual. All individuals must be present to register their vaccines.
Step 3:
Arrive for your appointment at the public health center (보건소). Parents please note: Children must be present when registering their vaccinations.
Step 4:
Let the front desk staff know that you are there to register your overseas vaccination. (The public health centers may not have English-speaking staff, so we have provided you with a few useful vocabulary and phrases below. You can also utilize 1330 or BBB Korea for free translation services.)
Step 5:
Let the public health center representative work their magic.
Step 6:
Request a paper copy of your now registered vaccination record both in Korean and in English (the English version will be helpful for traveling outside of the country). You may need to pay for copies, so bring about 10,000 won in cash, just in case.
Step 7:
Download the COOV app (only for those with FRCs) and input your information. NOTE: You do not need to enter your vaccines into the COOV app. The app syncs with the KCDA records automatically. The COOV app simply offers convenience for showing proof of vaccination in Korea.
Step 8:
Enjoy your new-found freedom
When can I register my overseas COVID vaccination in South Korea?
If you have proof of vaccination and a form of identification (FRC or Passport) you can register your vaccine in Korea NOW.
If your COVID-19 vaccine is over 6 months old, you will need a booster
The COVID vaccine ‘expires’ in South Korea between three to six months after primary vaccination. Read this article for more details on vaccination ‘expirations.‘ If you do not receive a booster shot prior to expiration, your access to establishments and entertainment will become limited once more.
Korea has opened up vaccination eligibility to everyone in Korea regardless of immigration status. Once you have registered your vaccine in Korea, you should gain eligiblity to receive a Free COVID booster shot within Korea. Such a booster shot should be possible upon registering your vaccine with your FRC (or passport) and using the foreign vaccine verification paper from the public health center.
However, SOS Public Health volunteers have not personally tested the process of receiving a COVID-19 booster without an FRC and a passport-verified foreign vaccination. South Korean policy simply states such a situation may be possible.
South Korea allows booster shots to begin three months after the original vaccination(s) and South Korea requires a booster vaccine after six months.
To receive your COVID booster shot, it is recommended that you call ahead to make an appointment with your preferred health clinic which offers vaccines. You can find a list of clinics offering vaccines on Kakao Maps. However, many locations may accept walk-ins.
Some public health centers will make your booster shot appointment for you if you ask them to. When you pop into a health center to register your COVID-19 vaccines, don’t forget to ask for help with making a booster shot appointment before you leave.
Bring proof of identification to your appointment. If you don’t have an FRC, your clinic may be able to provide you with a paper confirmation of your booster vaccine. Otherwise, you can return to the public health center (보건소) to ask for a copy.
Disclaimer Reminder
Once again, the information provided above is based on current COVID-19 policies implemented by the South Korean government. Please keep in mind, any and all information in this blog is subject to change in conjunction with government policy changes. SOS Public Health, and South of Seoul as a whole, does its best to stay updated on current policies to keep information on our blogs as well-informed as possible. However, with policies in constant flux, it can be difficult to keep up.
If you have additional information not included in this blog, please let us know by:
After confirming the information, we make updates accordingly.
Ms. Peck graduated from the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) in Incheon with a Master’s in Public Health and her Certification in Public Health (CPH). Ms. Peck also holds a Bachelor’s Degrees in Linguistics and one in International Studies with a Global Health emphasis.
Ms. Peck is Korean American and speaks both English and Korean. She has moved between the US and Korea since childhood, finally settling in Korea after graduating from UAC.
In 2021 Ms. Peck founded the South of Seoul Public Health Program which focuses on research and initiatives regarding the health and wellness of multinational residents in South Korea.
Additionally, Ms. Peck oversees the SOS Public Health Graduate Student Practicum Program which provides mentorship and training for Master’s in Public Health students. The program works with two students a semester with a focus on ethical UX research design, survey development, and initiative implementation.
