Korea issues travel ban for Myanmar's Rakhine state

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued new travel restrictions on Myanmar. Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

By Jung Min-ho

The Korean government has issued the highest-level travel restriction to ban its citizens from visiting the western region of Myanmar.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that it issued a black warning to Koreans who are staying in or planning to travel to the northern area of Rakhine State that borders Bangladesh.

It also issued a yellow warning (the third-highest alert of its four-tier travel warning system) against traveling to much of Kachin and Shan states in the north.

The ministry said it made the decision following growing armed conflicts in the country.

The new restrictions are expected to hamper Myanmar's effort to attract visitors from Korea. Last October, Myanmar started granting visa-free entry to Korean tourists.

“We will keep a watchful eye on Myanmar's political and security situations in order to check whether further travel restrictions are necessary,” the ministry said.