Vietnam Allows Entry of Over 170 Samsung Engineers... Quarantine Exemption Granted

[Asia Economy Reporter Bu Aeri] On the 13th, the Vietnamese government abruptly allowed Samsung Display engineers to enter the country. This exception was made despite the principle of quarantining arrivals from Korea for 14 days due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Issues regarding the entry of engineers from other Korean companies operating locally, such as LG Display, are also being actively reviewed, which is expected to ease the situation for companies operating there.

According to the Korean Embassy in Vietnam and industry sources, an Asiana Airlines charter flight carrying about 170 Samsung Display engineers and 186 crew members departed Incheon Airport at 9 a.m. and arrived at Van Don Airport in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam, at 3 p.m. the same day.

Van Don Airport, located about a three-hour drive from Hanoi, was designated by Vietnamese authorities as the landing site for flights arriving from Korea instead of Hanoi Airport.

Samsung Display employees plan to carry out modification work on the flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) module production line at a factory in Bac Ninh Province, northern Vietnam, separated from other employees. They will also stay in separate accommodations near the factory, with strict isolation from outsiders.

Separate vehicles will be used for transportation between the airport and accommodations, and between accommodations and the factory. Samsung is reported to have thoroughly checked the health status of the business travelers in advance.

After inspecting Samsung’s preparations, Vietnamese authorities reportedly recognized that the COVID-19 quarantine requirements were met and granted an exception to facility quarantine.

The Samsung Display employees entering this time are part of about 700 engineers for whom Samsung urgently requested entry permission.

Park No-wan, the Korean Ambassador to Vietnam, said, "The Vietnamese government allowed entry exceptionally and unusually," adding, "This is a starting point for allowing urgently needed engineers from Korean companies operating locally to enter."

He also stated, "Discussions are underway regarding LG Display employees’ entry," and "We are broadly identifying the needs of other companies as well."

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