Ministry of Foreign Affairs Issues 'Special Travel Advisory' Worldwide Until 23rd Next Month... Recommends Travel Cancellations and Postponements (Update)

Travel Alert Level 2 and 3 Measures Implemented... Border and Airport Closures Followed "Avoid Overseas Travel If Possible"
Italian Overseas Koreans to Return Next Week via Government-Arranged Temporary Flights
Korean Travelers Stranded in Peru to Return This Week

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a special travel advisory for countries and regions worldwide for one month until the 23rd of next month, recommending the cancellation or postponement of overseas travel. The special travel advisory is a measure equivalent to Level 2 travel caution and Level 3 evacuation recommendation travel alerts.

On the 23rd, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it would apply the special travel advisory for one month to countries and regions under Level 1 and Level 2 travel alerts according to the travel alert system. The special travel advisory is issued for urgent short-term risks and is valid for up to 90 days.

A senior official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters on the same day, "Except for regions where Level 3 and 4 travel alerts have already been issued, we are issuing a special travel advisory starting today," adding, "It is equivalent to Level 2 and Level 3 travel alerts, recommending cancellation or postponement of travel, and urging special caution for personal safety while staying abroad."

The 'special travel advisory' is a temporary measure in response to the worldwide implementation of strict entry restrictions such as entry bans. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun previously announced recommendations to cancel or postpone overseas travel along with social distancing. The senior official said, "As countries worldwide suddenly close borders, airports, and suspend flights, citizens staying abroad are facing great difficulties returning home," adding, "Since flights are not operating normally worldwide, it is advisable to avoid overseas travel as much as possible, and this means requesting cancellations or postponements."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously issued Level 2 travel alerts, which correspond to travel caution, for 16 countries in Western and Central Europe on the 16th, and on the 18th, issued Level 1 travel alerts, corresponding to travel notice, for all countries where no travel alerts had been issued. The Level 3 travel advisory, which means evacuation recommendation, remains in effect for the entire Hubei Province in China.

About 650 Korean nationals in Italy are scheduled to return home next week via a charter flight arranged by the government. Approximately 200 Korean travelers stranded in Peru are also expected to return on the 26th. In Italy, negotiations have been ongoing with the national airline centered around the Korean community, but a final flight contract has not been reached.

According to the Korean Embassy in Peru, a temporary AeroMexico flight from Lima, the capital of Peru, to Incheon has been arranged on the 26th (local time) to transport about 200 Koreans, including travelers and KOICA volunteers. Although the government arranged this temporary flight, the cost will be borne by the passengers.

The senior official explained, "The temporary flight to Italy is being planned for next week, and for Peru, it is being pursued for this week if possible." It is reported that Koreans returning from Peru include travelers as well as KOICA members. After the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Peruvian government declared a national emergency on the 15th and blocked all foreign entries and exits starting from the 17th.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to conduct thorough checks of crisis response manuals and other measures for diplomatic missions in regions with significant disparities in medical conditions, especially where testing and medical systems are not well established. The senior official said, "While the infection situation is severe in some regions, many places lack adequate medical systems," adding, "We have already sent the response manuals to the missions, but we will check whether the response systems have been properly established and whether the manuals are appropriate for the current situation."

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