Medical workers carry an Ebola patient to a treatment center in Rwampara, Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thursday. AP-Yonhap
Korea has issued a blanket travel ban for the Ituri Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, responding to the mounting death toll from a worsening Ebola virus outbreak in the region.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the Level 4 travel alert — the highest in the country’s four-tier system — will take effect on Friday at 2 p.m. Seoul time. The decisive move reflects a broader national mandate to strengthen safety protections and emergency support for citizens abroad.
With the addition of Ituri, Korea’s absolute travel ban now covers three provinces within the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including North Kivu and South Kivu. Under Korea’s Passport Act, Korean nationals are strictly prohibited from entering or staying in these designated zones unless they obtain rare, exceptional state authorization. Those who violate the order face criminal prosecution and statutory penalties.
The escalation underscores the volatile health and security landscape gripping the African nation. In addition to the ban on travel to the three provinces, Korea maintains a Level 3 "departure recommended" advisory for several border areas and regions, including territories within 50 kilometers of the Central African Republic border, Bas-Uele, Haut-Uele, Maniema and the Kasai regions. A special travel advisory remains active for the remainder of the country.
