South Korea Issues Travel Ban for DRC’s Ituri Province Amid Ebola Spread

South Korea Expands Travel Ban in DRC Due to Ebola Outbreak

Seoul, South Korea – The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday, May 22, 2026, that it has raised its travel advisory to Level 4, a “Travel Ban,” for Ituri Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The measure took effect at 2:00 PM KST on the same day, following a continuous increase in deaths due to the Ebola virus disease in the region.

Under a Level 4 travel advisory, Korean nationals are strictly prohibited from visiting or staying in the designated area. Those who violate this ban without obtaining special permission for passport use from the Ministry could face legal penalties under South Korea’s Passport Act. This strict advisory is implemented to protect the safety and well-being of Korean citizens abroad amidst severe risks.

With this latest adjustment, Ituri Province joins North Kivu and South Kivu as areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo under South Korea’s Level 4 “Travel Ban.” This expansion means a total of three provinces in the DRC are now subject to the highest level of travel restriction by the Korean government.

Beyond the “Travel Ban” areas, other parts of the DRC are also under heightened advisories. A Level 3 “Recommended Withdrawal” warning is in place for regions including areas within 50km of the Central African Republic border, Bas-Uélé, Haut-Uélé, Maniema, Kasaï, Kasaï-Central, Kasaï-Oriental, and parts of the former Katanga Province. All other areas of the DRC, excluding those under Level 3 or 4, are currently under a “Special Travel Advisory,” which urges extreme caution and reconsideration of travel.

Source: 외교부 보도자료 — Original Article (Korean)