[Exclusive] Over 10,000 Korean Businesspeople Entered as Exceptions Despite 'COVID-19' Lockdown

Business Travelers Exempted from Entry in 16 Countries
Rapid Transit System between Korea and China Implemented...Total Exempted Entrants Doubled in One Month

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Ten thousand Korean businesspeople have crossed borders that were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the implementation of the 'Korea-China Business Rapid Entry System,' the total number of exceptional entries has more than doubled in about a month. The government plans to actively continue negotiations to expand measures to institutionalize exceptional entry for Korean businesspeople to other countries.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 15th, the number of entrants who have made exceptional entries into countries with closed borders due to COVID-19 (including those with completed exceptional entry negotiations) has exceeded 10,000 through intergovernmental negotiations. This is about three months after the Prime Minister’s Office formed an intergovernmental task force (TF) team under the direction of Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun in March. Using the 'Korea-China Business Rapid Entry System' introduced last month, 2,361 businesspeople entered China under exceptional entry.

Combining the 9,374 Korean businesspeople who have already completed entry and the 709 who are scheduled to enter after completing intergovernmental negotiations, the total reaches 10,083 (as of the 10th). On the 12th, 301 Korean company employees and their families stationed in Vietnam entered exceptionally via a temporary Asiana Airlines flight. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained, “The number of businesspeople entering exceptionally has exceeded 10,000 for the first time,” adding, “The number of existing businesspeople waiting after applying for exceptional entry for business trips has significantly decreased.”

The number of countries allowing entry has also increased to 16. As of the 6th of last month, 5,081 Korean businesspeople were allowed exceptional entry in 11 countries. Among them, 4,261 had completed entry in 9 countries. This reflects the results of the government’s expanded intergovernmental TF operation centered on the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. However, the number of countries imposing strict entry bans on arrivals from Korea still exceeds 180.

The government plans to actively negotiate to expand permanent systems like the Korea-China Business Rapid Entry System to other countries. Face-to-face contact has also resumed. Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gun departed on the 13th for a business trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to discuss the introduction of a business rapid entry system (fast track). This is the first trip by a senior foreign affairs official since human exchanges for diplomatic activities were restricted due to COVID-19. Aside from the rapid response team addressing the local COVID-19 situation, the last overseas trip by a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official was Ambassador Chung Eun-bo’s visit to Los Angeles (LA), USA, in March for the Korea-US defense cost-sharing negotiations.

A senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said, “Except for China, negotiations with other countries are conducted on a case-by-case basis, which has limitations,” adding, “We are conducting related consultations with multiple countries to expand the introduction of systems like the Korea-China Rapid Entry System through bilateral agreements.” Since March, the government has negotiated with more than 20 major trading countries and has gradually expanded the target countries.

However, the government believes that it will take considerable time before general entry is allowed beyond exceptional entry for essential personnel such as businesspeople. A government source explained, “Many countries still face challenging COVID-19 situations, so institutionalizing exceptional entry for businesspeople is taking time,” adding, “Ultimately, it will take even more time before general people can enter.”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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