'Locked Down Globe' 7 out of 10 Countries Restrict Entry... 71 Countries Ban Entry from Korea

European countries also listed... Norway, Uzbekistan, and others strengthen entry restrictions
Hong Kong lowers to quarantine from the 17th... Vietnam allows limited entry for businesspeople

As the Malaysian government banned the entry of Koreans and foreign travelers from Korea starting from 0:00 on the 13th (local time) to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Malaysia Airlines counter at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport showed a quiet scene on the 13th. / Yeongjongdo = Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] As fear of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) spreads, the number of countries locking down their borders is rapidly increasing. The World Health Organization's (WHO) pandemic declaration and the United States' ban on entry of foreigners from Europe have further heightened global anxiety. The number of countries restricting entry from Korea is approaching 140.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related agencies on the 16th, a total of 138 countries worldwide (as of 10 p.m. on the 15th) have taken measures against entrants from Korea. This means that 7 out of 10 United Nations (UN) member states (193 countries) are restricting entry from Korea.

European countries, which had been refraining from imposing entry restrictions as much as possible, have joined the 'blind lockdowns' following successive announcements by WHO. Poland, Latvia, and Denmark have chosen to ban entry, Norway has raised its restriction level from mandatory self-quarantine to entry ban, and Uzbekistan has upgraded its quarantine measures to an entry ban. As a result, the number of countries banning entry from all regions of Korea has sharply increased to 65.

Besides European countries, nations with significant exchanges with Korea, such as Singapore and Australia, remain on the list. Australia has extended its entry ban period by another week. On the 5th, the Australian government decided to ban entry and transit for foreigners who have visited China, Iran, Italy, and Korea, and to review the extension weekly.

Six countries, including Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines, have imposed entry bans on certain regions. Since the 9th, Japan has implemented extensive measures such as entry bans without prior notice, visa restrictions, strengthened quarantine, and airport restrictions, effectively enforcing near-total entry bans. In response, the Korean government has taken reciprocal measures, resulting in daily entries between the two countries dropping to single digits.

Compared to entry bans, 17 countries have implemented quarantine measures. Within China alone, 22 local governments have set their own standards and continue to enforce facility quarantine and other measures for foreigners entering China. While some cases have eased from facility quarantine to self-quarantine, provinces such as Jilin, Henan, Heilongjiang, and Shanghai still quarantine entrants in designated facilities.

Fifty countries have strengthened quarantine or recommended self-quarantine, representing relatively lower-level measures. Although the proportion of countries notifying lower-level measures was once high due to the Korean government's diplomatic efforts, the fear of the COVID-19 pandemic is causing an increase in countries adopting stricter measures.

Among these, some countries have lowered previously raised thresholds. Hong Kong, which had banned entry from Korea, decided from midnight on the 17th to allow nationals and foreigners who have visited Korea within 14 days to self-quarantine for 14 days. Entrants from Daegu and Gyeongbuk will be quarantined in designated facilities.

Vietnam has selectively allowed businesspeople to enter. This is the result of persistent persuasion by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters and consulates general. Vietnam, which imposes quarantine measures on Koreans and restricts landings of flights from Korea, has permitted entry to 186 Samsung Display engineers who hold business visas and government-certified health certificates. They are undertaking modification work on a flexible organic light-emitting diode (OLED) module production line located in Bac Ninh Province in northern Vietnam.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is negotiating with about 20 countries to create cases allowing exceptions for businesspeople's entry, like Vietnam. So far, it is known that 3 to 4 countries have selectively permitted entry for businesspeople who meet the requirements. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Ministry of Health and Welfare are also sharing roles to find solutions.

A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “We are negotiating to ensure that business activities are not hindered by issuing health certificates and other measures,” adding, “There are places where exceptions have been recognized, and we will expand such cases.”

On the 6th, the travel agency counters on the 3rd floor of Terminal 1 departure hall at Incheon International Airport are quiet. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

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