Korean COVID-19 Patient Who Died in Vietnam Cremated Without Notification to Korean Association or Consulate

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] It has recently come to light that a Korean man in his 50s in Vietnam, who contracted COVID-19 and passed away, was cremated, causing growing anxiety within the Korean community.

According to the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and the Korean Association in Ho Chi Minh on the 17th, a 58-year-old Korean man contracted COVID-19 and was receiving treatment before recently passing away and being immediately cremated. The man was diagnosed positive earlier this month and isolated in a residential treatment facility. His condition worsened, and he was transferred to a large hospital for treatment but ultimately died.

The Ho Chi Minh authorities stated that the body was cremated immediately in accordance with quarantine regulations. According to local quarantine rules, individuals who die from infectious diseases must be cremated within 24 hours. However, it is reported that the Ho Chi Minh authorities did not notify the Consulate General or the Korean Association of the death and proceeded with cremation immediately, which has heightened concerns within the Korean community.

The deceased had been living alone in Ho Chi Minh, with other family members residing in Korea. The Consulate General and the Korean Association confirmed this fact belatedly after receiving a message from another Korean COVID-19 patient, who was isolated at the same time, reporting that the whereabouts of his friend were unknown and inquiring with Vietnamese authorities.

According to the Consulate General, due to the recent surge in confirmed cases in Ho Chi Minh, the workload has become overwhelming, and even when Korean patients are identified, personal information is not properly provided to the Consulate General or the Korean Association.

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