South Korea has announced that it would halt the use of the COVID-19 vaccine pass nationally starting on Tuesday, citing a high vaccination rate and ongoing legal challenges.

The decision comes more than two months after immunization passes were widely distributed around the country in early December. For as long as the requirement is in effect, people will not be required to provide proof of having had all recommended vaccinations or to have negative test results in order to attend public areas.

A statement issued on Monday by the Ministry of Health and Welfare stated that the permits were being phased out for the time being "in light of rising debate regarding their necessity in the context of high vaccination uptake." The ministry, on the other hand, emphasized that the suspension was only temporary and that it might be reintroduced if the situation warranted it.

Aside from that, plans for a vaccination pass for kids 18 and younger, which was scheduled to go into effect on April 1, have been put on hold.

The ministry's statement comes in the wake of a February 23 judgment by a Daegu court that barred those under the age of 60 from using immunization tickets in cafés and restaurants in that city. As a basis for its ruling, the court found the vaccination passes were inconsistent with the government's omicron response strategy, which deems the virus to be non-threatening for those under the age of 60.

According to the court, when vaccination passes were initially adopted, the delta virus was the predominant virus in circulation. However, as of February 19, omicron was responsible for 98 percent of all new infections.

"According to health officials, the case fatality rate for omicron is near to nil among those under the age of 50 as of February 21. Omicron is roughly as deadly as, if not less deadly than, the seasonal flu among fully vaccinated persons of all ages, the court found in its findings.

It further stated that necessary permits were first primarily utilized in high-risk venues such as indoor gyms, karaoke bars, and other adult entertainment facilities before being expanded to include many common sites such as restaurants, libraries, and supermarkets.

"As contact tracking and other methods come to an end, it's difficult to justify maintaining vaccination permits in locations that are important to sustaining living at the expense of basic rights," the report stated. "However, it should be highlighted that in non-essential areas where there is a significant risk of attack, it appears that their continued usage is required." "

The Korea Herald spoke with Dr. Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease professor at Korea University, who questioned the wisdom of forgoing the passes at locations such as hospitals, elderly homes, and places that aren't really necessary, such as adult entertainment enterprises.

According to him, "it's difficult to see why the ministry went beyond the extent deemed essential by the court in abandoning the directives."

It was just a few days ago that Health Minister Kwon Deok-Cheol stated in response to the Daegu court verdict that "there are no intentions to halt the passes throughout the rest of the nation." Kim used this as an example.

"Cafes and restaurants are typically considered to be a high-risk environment for the transmission of the coronavirus," the minister had stated.

Over the course of February, Korea has abandoned a slew of public health measures, including vaccination permits.

In general, persons infected with COVID-19 are encouraged to recuperate at home, with the exception of those who are experiencing severe symptoms. PCR testing is only available to those over the age of 60, with the remainder of the population relying on quick antigen self-tests. The standards for contact tracking and quarantine have been fulfilled.

"With the introduction of omicron, the conventional methods of regulating the virus are no longer practical or essential," said Son Young-rae, a spokeswoman for the Health Ministry. In his explanation, he stated that the massive spike caused by omicron, which is far milder than delta, will aid Korea in reaching an endemic phase.