Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Taking Measures Related to Cheonghae Unit in Coordination with Local Missions"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Six crew members of the Navy's Cheonghae Unit deployed overseas have tested positive for COVID-19, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it is responding to the situation mainly through local diplomatic missions related to the Cheonghae Unit.

At a briefing on the 15th, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said, "We are taking related measures in organic cooperation with the defense authorities, centered on local diplomatic missions," but did not disclose the location of the missions.

The official expressed concern, saying, "The local medical facilities are poor," and "there are about 10 facilities locally that can accommodate and treat COVID-19 patients, but they are saturated, so the quality of medical care is not guaranteed."

The vaccination status of overseas diplomats and diplomatic missions was also revealed. Most diplomats working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters have completed vaccination, but among 188 overseas missions, only about 90, mainly in advanced countries such as the United States and Europe, have conducted vaccinations.

In regions where the COVID-19 situation is severe, such as Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, vaccination is difficult to expect, and treatment conditions are poor. As a result, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently conducted a survey on vaccination demand among public officials dispatched to overseas missions and their families, with 2,000 expressing willingness, and it is known that 200 of them will return to Korea and get vaccinated by August.

Regarding overseas deployed soldiers, except for the 34th Cheonghae Unit where confirmed cases appeared this time, it is understood that a considerable number of personnel have been vaccinated.

Meanwhile, since last year, 150 Korean staff working at overseas diplomatic missions worldwide have tested positive for COVID-19, and including local administrative staff, 380 people have been infected.

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