1. In order to better ensure the safety of and protect the nationals of the Republic of Korea in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela where the public security situation has lately been worsening amid protests, the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to issue a special travel advisory for the parts of Venezuela that were under the travel-alert level of Yellow Alert. The new advisory will be effective from January 31, 2019.

° Since the outbreak of large-scale anti-government protests on January 23, such demonstrations have been spreading across Venezuela, and conflicts have been intensifying in the country and abroad, raising concerns over the possibility of the public security situation worsening in the country.

° The special travel advisory has been imposed on Caracas and the other areas that were under Yellow Alert. The areas under Red Alert will remain as is.

※ Travel advisories for different parts of Venezuela

- Yellow Alert (Travel-alert Level 2, Highly Cautious): Caracas and some other areas

- Red Alert (Travel-alert Level 3, Travel Restricted): Western areas near the border with Colombia and some of the eastern areas

※ The special travel advisory is tantamount to Red Alert (travel-alert Level 3), which calls for leaving the designated area(s) unless there are urgent matters to attend to; and cancelling or postponing, if possible, the plan to visit the area(s).

※ In 2017, in response to the worsening public security situation in Venezuela due to protests, the ROK government imposed a special travel advisory on the areas other than those under Red Alert.

2. The Korean nationals are advised to postpone or cancel their plans to visit Venezuela for the time being unless there are urgent matters to attend to. Those staying for an extended time in or having to visit the country are asked to pay serious heed to their safety.

3. The ROK Foreign Ministry, meticulously monitoring the public security situation in Venezuela, will review whether to keep the special travel advisory in place.

* unofficial translation