'COVID-19' Overseas Koreans Returning Home, Successive Cases of Korea-Japan Cooperation

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] South Korea and Japan are increasingly cooperating in supporting their nationals returning home to avoid the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). While most of the Japanese nationals used flights arranged by the South Korean government, recently there have been cases where Japanese nationals are returning home on flights arranged by the Japanese government.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 15th, two South Koreans returned home via a flight sent by the Japanese government to transport workers from the Toyota Motor plant located in Bengal Road, India. Six South Koreans stranded in Sudan are returning to Korea on a flight arranged by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Although there have been cases where the Korea International Cooperation Agency and the Japan International Cooperation Agency cooperated to repatriate nationals from Cameroon, this is the first time South Koreans have returned home on a flight arranged by the Japanese government. Until now, Japanese nationals have returned home on flights arranged by the South Korean government from Madagascar, Kenya, the Philippines, and other countries.

With all borders closed, there have also been cases of returning home using military aircraft. Eleven South Koreans stranded in Mali, Africa, escaped on the 14th via a military aircraft. These 11 individuals are scheduled to arrive in Korea on the afternoon of the 16th.

Additionally, 230 overseas nationals from Poland, Slovakia, and other countries are scheduled to return on the 16th via a Korean Air charter flight arranged by the Czech government to repatriate nationals stranded in Australia and New Zealand.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "South Korea is also assisting the return of nationals from other countries and is receiving help from other countries as well."

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