Seoul: A Seoul court has dismissed an injunction request by a female activist seeking to nullify the foreign ministry's order to return her passport for entrance into the Gaza Strip, according to sources Saturday. The activist had attempted to challenge the order which was issued following her previous endeavors to enter the volatile region.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Administrative Court on Friday rejected the activist's request. She had previously tried to enter the Gaza Strip aboard a ship with humanitarian activists in October last year. However, her mission was thwarted when Israeli forces intercepted the vessel, resulting in her detention for two days before being released.

The foreign ministry had ordered the activist to return her passport, highlighting that unauthorized travel to the Gaza Strip could result in severe consequences. This order is in line with South Korea's designation of the Gaza Strip as a travel ban zone. Unauthorized visits to such zones could lead to legal repercussions, including a jail term of up to one year or a financial penalty reaching up to 10 million won (approximately US$6,540).

The court's decision underscores the South Korean government's stance on enforcing travel restrictions to conflict zones, prioritizing national security and citizen safety. The activist's case brings attention to the legal implications of defying such travel bans and the government's commitment to upholding these regulations.