"Still Under Negotiation"... Ongoing Efforts to Find Breakthroughs in Korea-China Flights and Visa Issues

Ambassador Jang Ha-sung: "The Chinese Government Is at Least Not Showing a Negative Reaction"

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Despite ongoing consultations between South Korea and China, there has been no clear breakthrough yet regarding the normalization of air routes and visas, which were drastically reduced after COVID-19.

Jang Ha-sung, the South Korean Ambassador to China, said at a Beijing press briefing on the 29th, "Consultations between the two countries are continuing to resolve the issues of increasing flights and visa problems between South Korea and China," adding, "We understand that there is much concern among expatriates and international students due to the significant reduction in flights and the suspension of existing visas. We are working hard to find a solution." Regarding the progress of the consultations, he emphasized that "discussions are ongoing" and added, "The Chinese government is at least not showing a negative response."

Since there has been no result yet from the talks on increasing flights, it is highly likely that the existing South Korea-China air routes will continue to operate as they are next month. Currently, the airlines operating South Korea-China routes include three South Korean carriers: Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, and Jeju Air, and seven Chinese carriers: Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, among others.

Since China banned foreign entry from the end of March to prevent overseas re-importation of COVID-19, no South Korean airlines operate the Incheon-Beijing route in July. Only Air China operates the Incheon-Beijing route once a week via Qingdao, not direct, while Korean Air operates Incheon-Shenyang, Asiana Airlines operates Incheon-Changchun, and Jeju Air operates Incheon-Weihai once a week.

Ambassador Jang said, "Due to the restrictions on flights between South Korea and China, it is not easy for expatriates or residents in China to find flights back home," and explained, "We are actively promoting the plan to allow our expatriates who could not secure return flights to board special charter flights used for the South Korea-China business fast-track when these flights arrive in China and return to Korea. We will inform companies well about this so that the special charter flights can be utilized effectively."

Regarding the South Korea-China fast-track, which has been in operation for two months, Ambassador Jang said, "So far, 26 special charter flights have departed, bringing 3,617 people from Korea to China," and evaluated, "Singapore and Germany also have fast-track cases, but the South Korea-China fast-track has the highest number of flights and passengers and is very active. Nevertheless, among those who traveled between the two countries over the past two months, there have been no confirmed COVID-19 cases."

Ambassador Jang also stated that as the Chinese government’s COVID-19-related corporate support policies are being fully implemented, efforts are being made to actively inform Korean companies operating in China so they can benefit. He said, "Some companies have already received benefits such as tax reductions and extensions for tax payments, but we will ensure that more companies receive these benefits by providing relevant information," adding, "We have also discussed and requested cooperation to enable Korean banks operating in China to support Korean companies and small business owners. There have been some achievements such as deferrals of principal and interest repayments, credit loans, interest rate reductions, and interest exemptions."

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