'The World Locking Its Doors' 50 Countries Restrict Entry of Koreans... Mandatory Quarantine for All Entrants from Some Regions in China

Entry Ban on 25 Countries, Quarantine Strengthened for 25 Countries
India Temporarily Suspends Arrival Visa Issuance for Koreans from the 28th

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The number of countries restricting entry for all foreigners coming from Korea, including Koreans, has increased to 50. This is the result of countries around the world imposing entry restrictions, especially targeting countries with rising confirmed cases, to prevent the influx of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The number of regions within China that are forcibly quarantining both foreigners and Koreans entering from Korea, regardless of symptoms, has also increased to five, sparking controversy.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies as of 6 a.m. on the 28th, the total number of countries banning entry or strengthening entry procedures for Koreans and foreigners who have passed through Korea reached 50. Twenty-five countries have banned entry, and another 25 have strengthened entry procedures. Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Comoros, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Ukraine, and Croatia are among the newly decided countries imposing entry restrictions.

Since the Korean government raised the infectious disease crisis alert to 'serious' on the 23rd, the number of countries imposing entry restrictions has been rapidly increasing. Before the crisis alert was elevated to the serious level, the number of countries restricting entry for Koreans and foreigners transiting through Korea was around 13 to 14, but it has nearly quadrupled in a week. On average, 6 to 7 countries have been newly added each day this week.

In particular, the number of countries deciding to completely block COVID-19 entry by banning entry has significantly increased. The number of countries banning entry, which was only 5 to 6 at the beginning of last week, has increased by at least four times. Unlike the initial phase, which mainly involved small island countries with vulnerable quarantine systems or high dependence on tourism, countries such as Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia have also been added to the list of entry ban countries. Saudi Arabia, newly added, began allowing entry from the 27th only to foreigners holding residence permits or work visas from countries with COVID-19 outbreaks, including Korea.

On the 4th, passengers arriving on flights from China are entering through a dedicated immigration area at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1, wearing masks. / Yeongjongdo - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

The number of countries strengthening quarantine and isolation measures, including some regions within China, has increased by four in one day to a total of 25. Within China, Shandong Province, Liaoning Province, Jilin Province, Heilongjiang Province, and Fujian Province are implementing strict movement restrictions equivalent to entry bans.

Some regions within China, which have sparked controversy due to forced quarantine measures without prior consultation, continue to enforce strict isolation. At Harbin Airport in Heilongjiang Province, all international passengers are required to self-isolate or stay in designated hotels for 14 days. Similarly, at Xiamen Airport in Fujian Province, international passengers are moved to designated hotels for health checks, and only asymptomatic individuals are allowed to self-isolate or stay in hotels for 14 days.

Some countries have raised their entry barriers once again. India, which selectively quarantined arrivals from Korea or those with recent travel history to the country, decided to suspend the issuance of arrival visas starting from the 28th. To obtain a new visa, prior confirmation of visits to COVID-19 affected areas is required. This effectively raises the entry threshold once more. Iceland, newly added to the list of countries restricting entry, requires individuals with travel history to high-risk areas such as Korea, China, Italy, and Iran to minimize contact with others while self-isolating.

Next week, which is expected to be a critical point in the spread of the infection, the number of countries imposing entry restrictions is likely to increase further. Following the U.S. Department of State's upgrade of travel advisories to Level 3, "Reconsider Travel," after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overall anxiety about Korea has also heightened.

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to make every effort to prevent excessive measures against Koreans. Minister Kang Kyung-wha, after completing overseas schedules such as international conferences, told reporters at Incheon International Airport the previous day, "I believe each country must take necessary measures," but emphasized, "In the process, we are actively negotiating at each embassy to ensure that consultations with us occur and that our citizens do not face any distressing situations."

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