South Korea to Drop All COVID-19 Rules, but Not Mask Mandate

A woman walks past posters showing precautions against the COVID-19 coronavirus at a subway station in Seoul on April 15, 2022. Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images

South Korea will drop all COVID-19 restrictions starting next week as the Omicron-led outbreak begins to recede, but the mask mandate will remain in effect for the time being, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Friday.

“The Omicron has shown signs of weakening significantly after peaking in the third week of March,” Kim was quoted saying by the Korean Herald.