Over 80 Countries Impose Entry Restrictions from Korea... Uncertainty Grows Despite Full-Scale Response

Increase in Countries with Entry Bans and Stricter Entry Procedures... Number of Entry-Restricted Areas in China Rises to 14
US Travel Advisory Upgraded... Medical Screening Strengthened for Passengers Boarding Flights to the US at Entry and Exit
Vietnam Denies Landing of Korean Flights at Major Airports Without Prior Consultation... Increased Inconvenience for Travelers

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Despite the South Korean government's request to refrain from excessive entry restrictions on Koreans, the number of countries strengthening entry restrictions on Koreans and foreigners who have traveled through Korea is rapidly increasing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is enhancing communication through various diplomatic channels to prevent the worst lockdown measures due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), but the trend of entry bans, strengthened quarantine procedures, travel alert upgrades, and refusal of passenger plane landings shows little sign of easing.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 2nd, as of 5 a.m. that day, 81 countries worldwide have either banned entry of Koreans and foreigners who have traveled through Korea or significantly strengthened quarantine procedures. The number of countries notifying entry restrictions increased by nearly 10 over the past weekend. Since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began officially tallying countries and regions with entry restrictions on the 23rd of last month, the number has increased more than sixfold, accounting for over 40% of the 193 United Nations (UN) member states.

The number of countries that have completely banned entry of Koreans and foreigners who have traveled through Korea is counted at 36. This figure includes countries that have implemented measures requiring a certain period to pass after departing from Korea before entry is allowed, in addition to explicitly banning entry. The remaining 45 countries have strengthened entry procedures such as enhanced quarantine and initial isolation. The number of regions within China strengthening entry procedures has also increased to 14.

A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "Countries with weak quarantine capabilities or those that find it difficult to control the virus independently once it enters have increased preemptive measures out of anxiety," adding, "Except for the United States and Western European countries excluding the United Kingdom, there are almost no entry bans or restrictions."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

◆ US Strengthens Quarantine for Travelers from Korea = Nevertheless, concerns over lockdown measures worldwide are growing. Above all, the most critical focus is on the increasingly stringent actions of the U.S. Department of State. After raising the travel advisory to level 2 on the 22nd, the U.S. Department of State upgraded it to level 3, "Reconsider Travel," just four days later on the 26th, and on the 29th issued a level 4, "Do Not Travel," advisory for Daegu, Korea. While maintaining level 3 for other regions in Korea, the U.S. Department of State advised against traveling to Daegu, considering community transmission and the implementation level of local quarantine procedures.

In addition, the U.S. announced plans to strengthen medical examinations for passengers boarding flights to the United States, both before departure and upon arrival. This appears to be a shift from protecting U.S. citizens departing from the U.S. to strengthening entry procedures for foreigners. The situation faces uncertainty with the possibility of entry restrictions not being ruled out. U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned on Twitter on the 1st (local time), "Travelers coming from countries at risk of COVID-19 or regions within those countries will undergo medical examinations before boarding and again upon arrival in the United States."

Regarding pre-departure medical examinations, considerable consultations between South Korea and the U.S. seem to have been conducted. A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "We are reviewing more systematic health and fever checks for passengers on trans-Pacific routes." Since the 28th of last month, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have been conducting fever checks and health status confirmations for passengers bound for the U.S., but this is interpreted as a move to further strengthen those measures. The U.S. side is reportedly positively evaluating this as the so-called "Korea model."

On the 4th, when the entry restriction measures for foreigners visiting Hubei Province, China were implemented, a Chinese tourist who entered after passing through the quarantine checkpoint exclusively for passengers from China at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport is showing a quarantine confirmation certificate. / Yeongjongdo = Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

◆ Unilateral Measures Without Prior Consultation Continue, Causing Inconvenience to Koreans = Despite continuous requests from Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and various levels within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for host governments to refrain from excessive measures without prior consultation, unexpected measures continue to occur. The Vietnamese government prohibited the landing of flights from Korea at major airports without prior consultation. Following the ban on the landing of an Asiana Airlines flight at Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport during operation, control over the landing of flights from Korea began at Ho Chi Minh Airport as well. This caused numerous inconveniences, such as Koreans preparing to return home being stranded locally.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Vietnamese ambassador to Korea the previous day and lodged a stern protest over these incidents, despite repeatedly emphasizing the need for sufficient prior consultation between the two countries through various diplomatic channels. However, it remains uncertain whether the situation will improve. Previously, forced quarantine of Koreans including local citizens by Chinese local governments, quarantine measures for honeymooners due to entry suspension by the African island nation Mauritius, and the sudden suspension of flights between Turkey and Korea from the 1st, which stranded about 200 Koreans locally, were also carried out without prior consultation.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun reportedly instructed at a meeting with ministers in Seoul on the 29th in Daegu, held by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, to "devise practical measures" regarding the expansion of entry restrictions on Korea.

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