Sangi Holds Briefing on 'Japan Fast-Track Procedure'... "Hope for Continued Support from Authorities"

Direct Explanation by Takane, Japanese Economic Counselor in Korea and Head of Japan's Fast-Track Working Group
Expected Reduction in Quarantine Time and Costs for Businesspeople

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] A session was held on the 15th to introduce the newly implemented special entry procedure (fast track) between Korea and Japan and to address businesspeople's questions regarding entry and exit.

The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) invited Kazuma Takane, Economic Counselor of the Embassy of Japan in Korea and head of the Japanese working negotiation team for the Korea-Japan fast track, to hold a live broadcast of the "Japan Fast Track Online Briefing" at 11 a.m. that day. This was the first time the Embassy of Japan in Korea introduced the new entry procedure to Korean businesspeople. More than 500 businesspeople applied for the online briefing, showing high interest in the Japan fast track entry.

Since the 8th, Korea and Japan have agreed to and implemented the businesspeople "Business Track." The Business Track is a system that allows economic activities without quarantine if the visa is issued based on a pledge and activity plan prepared by the inviting company in Japan and the special screening procedures are followed. Of course, by using the "Residence Track," long- and short-term residents can enter Japan on the condition of 14 days of self-quarantine.

All applying businesspeople undergo health monitoring and COVID-19 testing before and after departure to minimize the possibility of infection spread. At the same time, they can start economic activities immediately after entry, reducing the time and financial costs incurred by business travelers due to quarantine. However, the scope of activities after entry is limited to accommodations and workplaces.

An official from the Embassy of Japan in Korea stated, “This system is implemented considering the COVID-19 quarantine situations in both Korea and Japan to prevent re-spread of infection. It is a partial and phased resumption of international human exchanges and is expected to be an important first step in putting Korea-Japan business exchanges back on track.”

Businesses welcomed the introduction of this fast track. Choi Myung-kyu, Vice Chairman of Korea Datsuno Co., Ltd., a company specializing in fuel dispensers and fueling software, said, “There had been disruptions in dispatching technical personnel and engineers for hydrogen charger development. We expect this system to greatly help achieve localization of related technologies.”

Kang Ho-min, Director of the International Headquarters at KCCI, emphasized, “The online briefing provided an opportunity to resolve many businesspeople’s questions about Japan’s special entry procedures. We hope that the business difficulties of companies highly dependent on trade with Japan will be resolved and that the scope of entry permissions will gradually expand with continuous support from relevant authorities.”

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