Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs: "Strengthening Protection Measures for Wuhan Residents to Ensure Their Safe Return"

A charter flight to bring Koreans staying in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China?the origin of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia)?and nearby areas back to Korea will depart on the night of the 30th. In the afternoon of the same day, flight KE9883-HL7461, presumed to be the charter flight to Wuhan, was waiting at Terminal 2. This charter flight is expected to carry up to 360 stranded Korean residents in Wuhan and return on the morning of the 31st.
Yeongjongdo - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Lim Cheol-young and Yoo Je-hoon] Lee Tae-ho, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated on the 30th, "Since two flights were reduced to one, there have been changes in seat arrangements and other adjustments, but basically, as the passengers are asymptomatic, we will strengthen protective measures to ensure their safe transport."

Lee, who is the head of the government's joint rapid response team, made these remarks at Incheon International Airport before departing for Wuhan, China. He said, "The Chinese government has just granted permission to operate a charter flight to support the return of Korean residents staying in Wuhan."

The charter flight is scheduled to depart Incheon International Airport at 8:45 PM and head to Wuhan. The flight time is three hours. Onboard will be quarantine officers from the Incheon Airport Quarantine Station, doctors and nurses from the National Medical Center, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff, all part of the rapid response team.

Lee said, "Our citizens are our citizens whether they are abroad or domestically. Protecting the safety and lives of our people wherever they are is the fundamental duty of the state." He added, "Although the flight schedule has been somewhat adjusted, we will be able to bring back the citizens who originally wished to return today by early tomorrow morning."

He emphasized, "We are also in discussions with the Chinese government to enable the prompt return of the remaining citizens who wish to come back."

However, regarding the deployment of a temporary flight on the 31st, Lee stated, "Permission has been granted for the flight departing today and returning tomorrow, but it has not yet been decided whether there will be one or two flights."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.