"Why Wuhan of All Places?" "Consider Massive Unemployment"… Heated Debate Over Resuming Routes to COVID-19 Origin

T'way Air Begins Incheon-Wuhan Route Operations from the 16th
Domestic Wuhan Route Banned Since January Due to COVID-19 Spread
Some Netizens Express Concerns Over Infectious Disease Spread

T'way Air passenger plane / Photo by T'way Air

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The T'way Air Incheon~Wuhan route, which had been suspended since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), is set to resume. However, some netizens have expressed concerns that if infections spread again in Wuhan, known as the first epicenter of COVID-19 in China, the impact could extend to South Korea.

On the 15th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that it had decided on the 14th to permit the resumption of T'way Air's Incheon~Wuhan route. It was also reported that T'way Air recently obtained a quarantine confirmation certificate from the local Chinese government and flight operation approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. As a result, T'way Air will be able to operate this route once a week starting from the 16th.

Previously, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had completely banned regular route operations on January 23rd when COVID-19 rapidly spread in China. T'way Air had been allocated the operating rights for this route last year and was scheduled to begin flights on January 23rd this year, but due to the COVID-19 impact, it was unable to operate even the first flight.

However, some netizens expressed concerns about the decision to resume the Wuhan route. They worry that if infections spread again in Wuhan, known as the initial outbreak site of COVID-19 in China, the virus could be transmitted domestically.

One netizen wrote on social networking services (SNS), "I am worried because it is not another Chinese city but Wuhan that is being connected first." Another netizen pointed out, "I think encouraging overseas travel while social distancing level 2 is being implemented is contradictory."

On the other hand, some argued that overseas routes cannot be suspended indefinitely. One netizen emphasized, "As an export country, it is unavoidable. We need to balance the economy and quarantine measures." Another netizen said, "With mass unemployment occurring in airlines, this is the only way to reduce the burden."

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