The Foreign Ministry has issued a Level 3 travel alert to parts of Syria, restricting South Koreans from traveling to certain regions where dozens of people were killed due to anti-government protests.

Syria's western governorates of Daraa and Latakia’s travel restriction saw their travel alert levels be raised one notch to “carefully review,” while other regions in Syria maintain at a “highly cautious” Level 2 travel alert. The ministry’s travel advisory system is based on a four level scale, with Level 4 being the most severe and dangerous.

A ministry official asked South Koreans to cancel or postpone trips to Daraa and Latakia, and urged South Koreans currently in those regions to return to South Korea whenever possible.