China Allows Wuhan Residents' Chinese Spouses and Children to Board Charter Flights

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] The Chinese government is reportedly planning to allow Korean residents in Wuhan, Hubei Province, the epicenter of the novel coronavirus infection, to board charter flights to Korea along with their Chinese spouses and children.

The Wuhan Consulate General announced this news on its website on the 8th and is conducting a survey of boarding demand until the night of the 9th.

Accordingly, if the government decides to deploy additional temporary flights at the government countermeasure meeting on the afternoon of the 9th, it is expected that Korean residents currently remaining in Wuhan will be able to return to Korea together with their Chinese spouses and children.

The Wuhan Consulate General recently began an additional charter flight boarding demand survey after Chinese authorities notified that even Chinese nationals who are spouses, parents, or children of Koreans residing in Wuhan would be allowed to travel to Korea by charter flight through a permission process.

The Wuhan Consulate General stated, "Recently, Chinese authorities have informed our mission that even Chinese nationals who are spouses or direct relatives (parents and children) of our nationals will be allowed to board for return after obtaining permission from Chinese authorities." However, Chinese nationals such as parents-in-law, siblings, fianc?es, or girlfriends are not included as spouses or direct relatives and therefore cannot board.

The decision and schedule for deploying additional charter flights have not yet been made. It is expected that the expanded Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun on the afternoon of the 9th will decide on the operation of additional charter flights.

Previously, the Korean government sent charter flights to Wuhan on January 30 and 31, respectively, repatriating 701 Koreans. Currently, about 200 Koreans and their families, including children and pregnant women, remain in Wuhan and nearby cities in Hubei Province.

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