Blocked Korea-Japan Business Exchange Resumes After 7 Months on the 8th... Will It Open the Way for Improved Relations?

'Special Entry Procedures for Businesspeople' Effective from the 8th... 14-Day Quarantine Exemption for Short Business Trips
Japanese Foreign Minister Mentions "Importance of Economic Exchange Recovery"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Korean businesspeople visiting Japan can now engage in economic activities without a separate 14-day quarantine period, provided they follow certain agreed-upon procedures between South Korea and Japan. Since Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga took office, restrictions on the movement of businesspeople between the two countries have been eased, raising expectations that the long-stalled improvement in bilateral relations may finally gain momentum.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the governments of South Korea and Japan will implement a "Special Entry Procedure for Businesspeople" starting from the 8th. This is the first easing measure Japan has taken targeting South Korea since it significantly tightened entry restrictions on all arrivals from South Korea in March.

The system agreed upon and set to be implemented by both countries is designed to relax entry procedures for businesspeople making short-term visits to Japan. Japan has already been allowing entry for medium- to long-term stays since earlier this month.

Going forward, Korean businesspeople using the "Business Track" will be able to conduct economic activities in Japan without undergoing a 14-day quarantine after entry. Until now, Japan has banned entry of foreign nationals residing in 159 countries, including South Korea, unless under "exceptional circumstances," but this agreement lowers the threshold for short-term stays by Korean businesspeople. Japan’s allowance of the "Business Track" for Korean businesspeople is the second case after Singapore.

However, the agreed entry and quarantine procedures between the two countries must be followed. Korean businesspeople planning short-term business trips to Japan must submit a pledge and activity plan prepared by the inviting Japanese company to the Japanese Embassy or Consulate General in Korea. After obtaining a visa, if they comply with the special quarantine procedures, they can be exempted from the 14-day quarantine upon arrival in Japan.

The special quarantine procedures include health monitoring for 14 days prior to departure, carrying a negative COVID-19 test certificate conducted within 72 hours before the flight, and enrollment in private medical insurance applicable during the stay in Japan, including travel insurance. After entering Japan, they must undergo another COVID-19 test and report their health status daily for 14 days via a smartphone app. They are allowed to travel only between their residence and workplace using designated vehicles. The airports available for entry are Tokyo and Osaka airports in Japan, and entry into Japan must be via Incheon International Airport.

The "Residence Track" for long-term stays, which the Japanese government has been implementing since this month, also exempts the 14-day quarantine if the "Business Track" is applied. The Residence Track does not require submission of an activity plan when applying for a visa but previously required a 14-day quarantine.

There is keen interest in whether this implementation of the "Special Entry Procedure for Businesspeople" will mark a turning point in the frozen relations between the two countries. A Foreign Ministry official explained, "Through this agreement, personal exchanges with Japan, which is the third-largest trading partner and the second-largest country for human exchange, will officially resume starting with businesspeople. We will continue efforts to expand the scope of the special entry procedures and support economic activities."

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also emphasized the importance of restoring exchanges during a press conference. Motegi said, "Japan and South Korea are very important neighbors to each other. Although the current relationship is very difficult, it is even more important at times like this for businesspeople and the citizens of both countries to interact."

Japan is the fifth country after China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indonesia, and Singapore to institutionalize special entry procedures for essential personnel such as businesspeople from South Korea.

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