"Best Effort for Quarantine Citizen Support" Rapid Response Team Heads to Vietnam... Composed of 12 Members in 3 Teams

Minister Kang Kyung-hwa Encourages Rapid Response Team at Airport
96 Countries Imposing Entry Restrictions on Korea

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is checking a fever screening camera while on her way to meet the rapid response team formed to support Korean nationals quarantined in Vietnam due to COVID-19 prevention measures at Terminal 1 departure hall of Incheon International Airport on the 5th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The government is dispatching a rapid response team to support 276 Koreans quarantined in Vietnam. The rapid response team being dispatched this time consists of 12 members across three teams from related ministries.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 5th, the rapid response team departed for Vietnam this morning via Thai Airways flight to Bangkok from Incheon International Airport. The team will be dispatched to Vietnam via Bangkok, Thailand.

Before departure, Rapid Response Team Leader Kyeon Jong-ho said to reporters, "We will assist Korean nationals in Vietnam to return to Korea quickly and resolve any difficulties they may face." He added, "There are people in facilities, and providing necessary supplies to them is the most important. We will also help those entering (Vietnam) in the future to avoid any difficulties."

Minister Kang Kyung-wha also came to Incheon International Airport to encourage the rapid response team. Minister Kang explained, "About 270 of our citizens are in quarantine situations, partly voluntarily and partly involuntarily," adding, "The local diplomatic missions' response was insufficient, so we decided to dispatch the rapid response team."

The rapid response team formed to support our citizens quarantined in Vietnam due to COVID-19 prevention measures is departing through Incheon International Airport on the 5th. Team leader Gyeon Jong-ho is answering questions from the press. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

A total of 276 Koreans are quarantined in Vietnam. It has been confirmed that 142 are in the jurisdiction of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Vietnam, 112 in the jurisdiction of the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, and 22 in the jurisdiction of the Consulate General in Da Nang, quarantined in military facilities, health centers, and others.

The rapid response team plans to arrive in the three regions to negotiate quarantine releases for Koreans in facility quarantine, support those wishing to return home, and assist in resolving difficulties.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "The rapid response team is scheduled to carry out its mission locally for one week," adding, "Extension of the activity period will be considered depending on the situation."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been negotiating with the Vietnamese government to dispatch the rapid response team locally. Especially since the Vietnamese government is enforcing facility quarantine for Koreans as a principle, negotiations have been held to obtain exceptions. As a result, it is known that the Vietnamese government approved the local dispatch without quarantine measures as of the afternoon of the previous day. The 12 members of the rapid response team also carried negative test certificates for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Restrictions on entry worldwide are increasing inconveniences for Koreans. As of 9 a.m. on this day, 96 countries have implemented entry bans, quarantine, or strengthened inspections. Thirty-six countries have imposed entry bans on all regions of Korea, and four countries have imposed entry bans on certain regions of Korea. Twenty-three countries have implemented quarantine measures, and 33 countries have taken measures such as strengthening inspections and issuing recommendations.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Minister Kang, is lodging stern protests to countries imposing entry restrictions at various levels and requesting them to refrain from excessive measures. Minister Kang also attended the full meeting of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee the previous day and emphasized, "Generally, countries that do not request self-quarantine are taking very blunt measures such as entry bans," adding, "Entry restrictions and bans vary depending on quarantine capabilities."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has judged that the local diplomatic missions can respond to about 830 Koreans quarantined in China and plans not to dispatch a separate rapid response team.

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