Due to the Coronavirus import by foreign residences to Korea, starting from June 1, 2020, all long-term visa holders with Alien Registration Card who intend to re-enter South Korea without a visa after leaving the country, are required to visit immigration offices (including airport and port offices) prior to departure from South Korea and apply for a Re-Entry Permit.

Visa holders with Diplomats (A-1), Government Officials (A-2), International Agreement (A-3) or Overseas Korean (F-4) status are not required to apply for a Re-Entry Permit, and are thus allowed to re-enter the South Korea without re-entry permit. . In addition, Registered aliens who seek to re-enter the Republic of Korea within 3 weeks after departing from the country for the purpose of business (investment) activities, journalism, academic (research) activities are also allowed to enter Korea without re-entry permit.

To apply for a Re-Entry Permit, relevant foreigners need to visit a local immigration office across the nation (including airport and port offices) and submit an application form and a letter of explanation, and pay for the application fee (KRW 30,000)

In addition, registered aliens seeking re-entry into South Korea after departure are required to undergo a medical examination related to COVID-19, 48 hours prior to the date of departure and present a medical certificate (diagnosis) detailing the results to re-enter South Korea. And those without a written diagnosis will be denied entry into South Korea. 

A diagnosis must be written either in Korean or English, however translation will be acceptable as well (apostille or notarization in Korea isn't required). The document must include the date of examination and the presence or absence of fever, cough, chills, headache, difficulty of breathing, muscle pain and pulmonary symptoms, and must be signed by a medical examine. A diagnosis does not have to include a COVID-19 test result (Test Negative). However, a medical certificate (diagnosis) listing a COVID-19 negative result shall also be deemed as valid.

Failure to present a diagnosis will result in denial of entry into South Korea and air carriers and ship companies will ban those without the required document from boarding any flights or ships bound
for Korea. Moreover, immigration officers will conduct inspection once again during immigration clearance to prevent those ineligible from entering the nation.

Long-term stayers with Diplomats (A-1), Government Officials (A-2), International Agreement (A-3), or Overseas Korean(F-4) status and foreign investors with a valid ‘Isolation Exemption Certificate’ issued by a Korean embassy or consular office are exempted, as an exception, from the obligation to submit a written diagnosis and are allowed to re-enter to South Korea, minimizing the impact of the measure on the business sector.

Source: Ministry of Justice, the Korean Immigration Service