1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which adjusts its travel advisories for foreign countries on a biannual basis, issued new travel advisories or changed the travel-alert levels for the Republic of Indonesia, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Tunisia, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Republic of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Georgia, the Republic of Nicaragua, the Republic of Haiti, the Republic of Ecuador, and Belize, effective from February 27.

° The travel-alert level for West Sumatra, Indonesia, has been raised to Level 2 (Yellow Alert/Highly Cautious) from the previous Level 1 (Blue Alert/Precautious), and vice versa for Lombok.

° In the case of Thailand, the travel-alert Level 1, which was effective in all the parts of the country, -- except for those under Level 3 (Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat), as well as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Chonburi, Krabi and Panga, Chiang Rai, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Koh Samui and Koh Phangan -- has been lifted.

° Amid the public security situation improving in Lahore in the Pakistani province of Punjab, the travel-alert level for the area has been lowered to Level 2 from the previous Level 3 (Red Alert/Recommend Withdrawal).

° In the case of Tunisia, amid the public security situation improving in coastal tourism cities and major commercial cities, the travel-alert level for Tunis and its neighboring areas, Bizerte, Nabeul, Sousse, Monastir, Mahdia, Sfax, and Djerba has been lowered to Level 1 from the previous Level 2.

° The travel-alert level for Gambela and Benishangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia, has been raised to Level 3 from the previous Level 1.

° With troops of Cameroon actively countering Boko Haram and other armed extremist groups and thereby playing a role in improving the public security situation in the northernmost province of Cameroon, Level 3 has been issued in place of the previous special travel warning (Travel Banned).

° In the case of the Central African Republic, Level 3 has been issued for the entire country in place of the previous special travel warning.

° In the case of Georgia, with instability continuing in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and the Georgian government levying fines on, arresting and/or detaining foreigners who visit Abkhazia and South Ossetia without permission from the Georgian government, the travel-alert level for the areas has been raised to Level 3 from the previous Level 2.

° Amid the prolonged public insecurity in Nicaragua, the special travel alert (Recommend Withdrawal), which is effective for a short period of time, has been in place in the country for longer than usual. Thus, in place of the special travel alert, Level 3, its equivalent, has been issued for the entire country.

° In the case of Haiti, Level 3, which has been effective in the areas other than northern and northeastern provinces under Level 2, has been expanded to the entire country due to the political instability and the public insecurity caused by the spread of large-scale violent protests.

° The travel-alert level for Santa Elena (except for the Montañita Beach), Ecuador, has been lowered to Level 1 from the previous Level 2. The Level 2 for Montañita Beach will remain as is.

° Travel-alert Level 1 has been issued for Belize City and border areas between Belize and Nicaragua (Orange Walk, Cayo and Toledo).

2. Please visit the Foreign Ministry’s website on safe overseas travel at www.0404.go.kr to check the travel advisories and the behavioral guidelines for each travel-alert level, as well as safety updates on individual countries.

* unofficial translation