Two Charter Flights for Evacuating Italian Residents Arranged by Government... Weekly Deputy Minister-Level Meetings with Seven Countries Scheduled

Peru to Repatriate Over 250 Korean Travelers and KOICA Volunteers via Temporary Flights
Businesspeople Face Growing Inconvenience Amid Entry Restrictions Worldwide... 15 Countries and 30 Cases of Business Difficulties Reported

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] A total of 573 Italian overseas nationals are expected to return home on two temporary flights arranged by the Korean government. Previously, the Korean Association in Italy had completed a survey of overseas nationals wishing to return and had been negotiating directly with national airlines to arrange temporary flights, but it seems these efforts were unsuccessful.

On the 20th, a senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters, “Initially, efforts to arrange temporary flights were led by the Korean Association for overseas nationals in cooperation with airlines, but the government decided to proceed with temporary flights directly arranged by the government.” He explained, “The demand for returnees is 421 under the jurisdiction of the Milan Consulate General and 152 under the Rome Embassy, and we are discussing related matters aiming to deploy two temporary flights.”

Including 162 Korean travelers stranded in Peru due to lockdown measures, about 250 people including KOICA volunteers are also expected to return via temporary flights. It is known that the flight permission procedures from the Peruvian government are still pending. The senior official said, “Among 177 Korean travelers, 162 wish to return, and including KOICA volunteers, there is a demand for about 250 returnees,” adding, “Procedures such as flight permission from Peru are still pending for the temporary flights.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also providing consular assistance to KOICA volunteers remaining in countries including Chile, Argentina, Morocco, Honduras, and Ecuador. In Chile, a field response team has been formed to handle the situation, and the Argentine Embassy is also supporting efforts to find alternative flights.

In Morocco, where flights have been suspended, 57 Koreans including KOICA volunteers are stranded. In Honduras, 15 KOICA volunteers and 2 tourists wish to depart. The senior official stated, “We will provide support in consultation with the Moroccan government,” and explained, “Negotiations for exceptions are underway with the Honduran government, and they plan to gather in the capital and move to nearby Nicaragua by chartered bus.” The 76 KOICA volunteers in Ecuador are currently being assisted to secure temporary flights to Mexico City before returning home.

As countries worldwide impose entry restrictions, inconveniences for businesspeople are also increasing. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a total of 30 cases of difficulties faced by businesspeople from 15 countries have been reported. It has been confirmed that a total of 3,919 businesspeople are involved.

The senior official said, “Among the reported difficulties, 12 cases are under negotiation, and 18 are newly received,” adding, “We have instructed the relevant diplomatic missions to negotiate, and so far, negotiations have been completed for 1,126 people, 184 visas have been issued, and 245 people have entered after entry restrictions.”

As of 7 a.m. on the same day, 28 countries had requested support for COVID-19 related supplies such as diagnostic kits. It is known that several countries, including developed nations, are requesting exports. The senior official said, “We expect exports to be decided after introducing manufacturers and conducting consultations.”

Meanwhile, a deputy minister-level meeting involving foreign deputy ministers from seven countries including Korea, the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, and India will be held weekly. On the morning of the same day, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and First Vice Minister Cho Se-young held ministerial-level and deputy minister-level online meetings, respectively.

The senior official explained, “At the meeting held today, it was mentioned that despite COVID-19, it is undesirable for essential economic activities to shrink,” adding, “They emphasized the need to recognize exceptions for businesspeople’s entry restrictions and that a complete entry ban is not desirable.”

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