S.Korea to end pre-departure COVID test requirement for international arrivals

South Korea will end the pre-departure COVID-19 test rule for travellers to the country starting on Saturday, Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday. South Korea lifted most of its pandemic-related restrictions in May, but has maintained some of the strictest border measures among major economies, requiring inbound travellers to present a negative coronavirus test result taken before departure.

Daily COVID infections in the country have been hovering around 100,000 in recent weeks after reaching more than 180,000 in mid-August.