Ministry of Foreign Affairs Launches Task Force to Support Overseas Koreans' Return... 177 Koreans Stranded in Peru

About 500 Italian Overseas Nationals Wishing to Return Home... Support for Return via Available Flights
"Many Countries Request Supplies Like Diagnostic Kits... Cases of Matching with Companies Also Reported"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is making every effort to support the return of Koreans stranded in Peru, which has closed its borders in response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). As overseas Koreans and Korean travelers are facing difficulties returning home due to travel restrictions in some countries, the Ministry plans to form a 'Task Force (TF) for Supporting the Return of Overseas Koreans' led by Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho, the Overseas Safety Management Planning Group, and regional directors to respond accordingly.

On the 19th, a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters, "We are continuously consulting with the Peruvian government, and as of now, we understand that 177 Koreans wish to return home." The official added that in the case of the Philippines, the policy of 'allowing foreigners to depart within 72 hours' was reversed, improving the departure situation, and that the national carrier is responding by increasing flights or replacing aircraft with larger ones to ensure no disruption to return flights.

It has been confirmed that about 500 overseas Koreans in Italy wish to return. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to support their return by utilizing available air transportation options locally, in addition to the national carrier. However, if existing transportation options are insufficient, the Ministry is considering deploying temporary flights.

Although the exceptional entry permission for businesspeople is slow, it is reported to be progressing. The senior official explained, "We are continuing negotiations to allow businesspeople to enter exceptionally so that their corporate activities are not hindered," adding, "No new countries have been added, but there is gradual progress on existing issues." The upcoming G20 video summit scheduled for next week is also expected to focus on facilitating smooth business activities. It is known that 7 to 8 countries have allowed limited entry on a case-by-case basis.

The official also stated that the number of countries requesting supplies and support such as diagnostic kits is increasing. He said, "We are receiving many requests for cooperation on diagnostic kits, supplies, and know-how," adding, "Some countries have contacted us saying they received special instructions from their presidents to establish special cooperation with Korea, and we have also had many consultations about imports. When requests come in, we coordinate with relevant ministries to connect the country's agents or companies, which has yielded results."

Meanwhile, as of 7 a.m. on the 19th, the total number of Koreans quarantined worldwide was counted at 2,297, including 2,056 in China and 163 in Vietnam. The total number of people released from quarantine was 4,255, with 3,612 and 466 confirmed in China and Vietnam, respectively.

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