'COVID-19 Spread' 80 Overseas Koreans and Families Arrive in Incheon from Iran... Tested at KOICA Training Center

Purchased separate tickets from Iran to UAE Dubai... Returning to Incheon from Dubai by Asiana charter flight
If COVID-19 test result is negative, 2 weeks self-quarantine required

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] To avoid the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), 80 overseas Koreans from Iran and others returned home by chartered flight.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Asiana Airlines on the 19th, Asiana Airlines flight OZ5973 operated as a ferry flight (flight without passengers) and took off from Incheon Airport at 11:50 PM on the 17th. It arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) at 4:50 AM local time on the 18th. Then, carrying Korean residents from Iran, flight OZ5973 departed Dubai at 2:45 AM and arrived at Incheon Airport around 4:25 PM the same day.

The chartered flight carried 80 passengers, including 74 overseas Koreans and 6 family members with Iranian nationality. Since Iran, which is under U.S. sanctions, cannot send its national airline directly, overseas Koreans in Iran used Iran Air from Tehran to Dubai and then transferred to an Asiana Airlines passenger flight in Dubai. This is the first time a chartered flight evacuation has been conducted targeting all overseas nationals of a specific country.

After arriving in Korea, the overseas Koreans and their families stayed at the KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) Training Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province for about 1 to 2 days to undergo COVID-19 testing. If the test results are negative, they enter a 14-day self-quarantine.

The Iran charter flight was scheduled to be deployed last week but was postponed once due to delays in negotiations with the Iranian airline. With about 80 overseas Koreans returning home, it is reported that approximately 100 overseas Koreans remain locally. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to continue consular assistance through the embassy in Iran. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, "Since there are no direct flights to Iran and the national airline has never been there, there is a burden of flying to an unfamiliar destination, and due to sanctions against Iran, there are insurance issues," adding, "From Iran to Dubai, individuals purchased tickets separately and traveled."

The cost of the chartered flight is borne by individuals, as was the case with the evacuation of overseas Koreans from Wuhan, China. The personal expense is 1 million KRW per adult. An Asiana Airlines official said, "Recently, air routes between Iran and neighboring countries have been reduced, increasing inconvenience for our citizens traveling to and from this area," and added, "Therefore, in close consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we decided to operate this chartered flight."

Meanwhile, as of noon on the 18th local time, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Iran was 17,361, with 1,135 deaths. Previously, the government transported overseas Koreans from Wuhan and Korean passengers aboard a Japanese cruise ship by chartered flights and the presidential aircraft.

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