Overseas Korean Death Related to COVID-19 in the Middle East... Government Plans Support Measures

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] As multiple Korean companies have entered Iraq, where deaths of Koreans due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have been occurring one after another, the government is devising support measures.

Kim In-cheol, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing on the 30th, "We have established a constant communication system between the local embassy and companies and are closely communicating with the ordering parties," adding, "We are considering all possible support measures including emergency medical support such as providing quarantine supplies and emergency telemedicine consultations."

He continued, "We are closely monitoring overseas COVID-19 trends and are seeking effective response support plans through organic cooperation with related ministries, quarantine authorities, and our companies."

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Hanwha Construction on the same day, Mr. Lee, a head of a partner company working at a new town construction site on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq, died after showing suspected COVID-19 symptoms on the 27th. Earlier, on the 16th, one employee of a Korean construction company operating in Iraq also died from COVID-19.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to provide consular assistance necessary for funeral procedures, but it is known to be facing difficulties due to complicated transport procedures and challenges in securing flights.

So far, the total number of overseas Koreans who have died from COVID-19 in the Middle East region is three, including one Korean construction company dispatched employee who died in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the 4th of last month.

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