'Border Closure' Peru, 198 Stranded Koreans Depart on Temporary Flight... Arriving in Incheon on the 28th

Including Korean travelers, overseas Koreans, KOICA volunteers, and employees of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency
All passengers tested for COVID-19 and self-quarantined after boarding

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] A total of 198 Koreans stranded in Peru due to the country's border closure amid concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) will return home on a temporary flight arranged by the government.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korean Embassy in Peru, at around 4:11 PM local time on the 26th, an AeroMexico aircraft carrying 198 overseas Koreans and Korean travelers took off from Jorge Chavez Airport in Lima, Peru. The temporary AeroMexico flight arranged by the Korean government will transit through Mexico City and is scheduled to arrive at Incheon International Airport at 6:20 AM Korean time on the 28th.

The Peruvian government declared a state of emergency on the 15th to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ordered all citizens to self-quarantine. On the 17th, all entries and exits were banned. As a result, Korean travelers in the area were unable to return home, and overseas Koreans and KOICA volunteers wishing to return to avoid COVID-19 were stranded. Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs began negotiations with the Peruvian government through diplomatic channels and obtained permission to operate the temporary flight.

The temporary flight included Korean travelers who had traveled to Peru, overseas Koreans, KOICA volunteers, and employees of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. The Korean Embassy in Peru mobilized seven buses and flights to transport Koreans from various parts of Peru to the capital, Lima. The cost of using the flight is 500,000 KRW per adult for Cusco-Lima and 3,500,000 KRW per person for Lima-Incheon.

In Peru, temporary flights from countries including Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia are also transporting their nationals. Passengers returning this time must undergo COVID-19 testing and self-quarantine for 14 days under strengthened quarantine measures. If any confirmed cases are found, all passengers must stay in temporary living facilities for 14 days.

Meanwhile, the Peruvian government announced that it will extend the quarantine period for all citizens until April 12.

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