South Korea on Tuesday banned its citizens from traveling to Syria amid deepening conflict between protesters and government forces in the country, the foreign ministry said.
The travel ban will go into effect next Tuesday and will be in place for six months, according to the ministry. Those who do not comply may face punishment of up to one year in prison or pay a fine.
The ban comes after the ministry imposed restrictions on traveling to Syria last April, urging its nationals to leave the country unless it is essential that they stay.
Currently, 74 Koreans including students reside in the country.
Those who wish to stay must ask for government permission by Sept. 6, the ministry said.
South Korea now bans travel to a total of six countries, including Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Iraq and Yemen, according to the ministry.
Regarding Libya in particular, the ministry said that it will keep its travel ban for the time being despite growing signs that the months-long civil war is nearing an end.
"The rebels have taken control of Tripoli, showing that the end of the civil war is imminent, but combat is still under way," a ministry official said.
The ministry said that it will closely monitor developments in Libya for a possible downgrade of the current travel restrictions.
In July, Seoul extended a ban on travel to Libya for three months until October. (Yonhap News)
