From the New Year, Vietnam's 'Special Entry' Agreed for Implementation Between Korea and Vietnam... Simplified Entry for Businesspeople

by Lim Chulyoung

Published 04 Dec.2020 14:18(KST)

Updated 04 Dec.2020 14:43(KST)

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After bilateral working-level consultations, the system will be applied from the 1st of next month... Sixth case following China, UAE, etc.
Expectations for promoting economic exchanges limited by COVID-19

On the 8th, when the special entry procedures for Korean and Japanese businesspeople were implemented, passengers at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 were undergoing departure procedures for the flight to Narita, Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] A 'special entry procedure' system that simplifies the entry process for businesspeople between South Korea and Vietnam amid the COVID-19 situation will be implemented starting from the new year.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 4th, the governments of South Korea and Vietnam agreed to implement the 'Korea-Vietnam Special Entry Procedure' from January 1 next year to support essential movement of businesspeople between the two countries, following the visit of Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh by Lee Tae-ho, the 2nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. The introduction of the expedited entry system for businesspeople is the sixth, following China in May, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indonesia, Singapore, and Japan. Vietnam is the second country after Japan to implement the 'special entry procedure' with South Korea.

Both countries have maintained quarantine efforts to respond to COVID-19 during major high-level exchanges between Korea and Vietnam and have confirmed a consensus on the necessity of institutionalizing the special entry procedure to support businesspeople's economic activities, conducting working-level consultations to prepare concrete implementation plans.

Starting with a Korea-Vietnam phone call on April 4, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha visited Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in September, and National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug also met with Prime Minister Phuc in November. Additionally, meetings between Ambassador Park No-wan to Vietnam and the Minister of the Vietnamese Prime Minister's Office and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Consular Affairs were held consecutively.

This agreement is the result of continuous exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. Despite the spread of COVID-19, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and related organizations such as the Korean Embassy in Vietnam, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, KOTRA, Vietnam-Korea Business Association (Kocham), Hanoi SME Association, and Korean Association have actively cooperated to operate irregular flights to support Korean businesspeople's trips to Vietnam. To date, there have been about 17,000 exceptional entries of Korean businesspeople.

Through this agreement, Korean businesspeople on short-term business trips of less than 14 days to Vietnam can engage in economic activities immediately without a 14-day quarantine period after entering Vietnam.

Korean businesspeople must obtain entry approval from the People's Committees of the local provinces and cities in Vietnam, approval of quarantine guidelines and activity plans, and visa issuance permission from the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security. After receiving a visa issued in Korea, they must comply with special quarantine procedures upon entry to Vietnam to perform pre-approved business activities within Vietnam.

With this special entry procedure agreement, along with the irregular flights currently promoted by the Vietnamese embassy and related organizations amid the COVID-19 situation, it is expected to further promote economic exchanges with Vietnam, a major trade and investment partner of Korea and a key partner country in the New Southern Policy.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "Going forward, both Korea and Vietnam will continue mutual efforts through diplomatic channels to ensure the smooth operation of the 'special entry procedure' and enhance the effectiveness of the system."