Incident Details

The Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise will take place from August 17 to 27 throughout South Korea. Around 18,000 South Korean personnel are expected to participate in the exercises. Most of the exercises will take place in Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces, as well as at the Pocheon complex near the DMZ. Multi-domain operations against drones, cyberattacks, and GPS disruptions will be tested. North Korea has denounced the exercises and threatened to respond, heightening the risk of further military activity throughout the Korean Peninsula. The August 20th air-raid drill will likely cause travel disruptions due to heavy military and civilian mobilization towards shelter bunkers.

Traveler Safety

SafeAbroad travelers are advised to avoid all military operation sites and plan their travel routes in advance. Travelers are advised to plan their routes in advance and expect delays due to military operations.