Charter Flight Carrying 'Wuhan Evacuees' Departs... Only 'Asymptomatic' Passengers Expected to Board

A charter flight dispatched to transport Korean residents living in Wuhan, China, departed from Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 30th, heading to Wuhan.
Yeongjongdo - Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Lim Cheol-young, Yoo Je-hoon] A government-chartered flight to bring Koreans from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China?the epicenter of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia)?and nearby areas departed from Incheon International Airport on the night of the 30th.

The Korean Air KE 9883 Boeing 747 passenger plane, carrying the government rapid response team and others, took off from Incheon International Airport at approximately 8:57 p.m. that day. Emergency medical relief supplies to be delivered to Wuhan were also loaded onto the chartered flight. The flight is expected to land at Wuhan Tianhe Airport late at night, Korea Standard Time.

Lee Tae-ho, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the rapid response team, said before departure, "It is the fundamental duty of the state to protect the safety and lives of its citizens wherever they are," adding, "(Passengers on the chartered flight) are basically asymptomatic, so we will strengthen protective measures to ensure their safe transport."

Koreans scheduled to board the chartered flight have been waiting at Tianhe Airport since 9 p.m. Korea Standard Time (8 p.m. local time). About 720 people from Wuhan and nearby areas applied for repatriation on the chartered flight. Only "asymptomatic" individuals who have passed quarantine inspections by Korean and Chinese medical staff and quarantine officers are expected to board the plane. A body temperature of 37.3 degrees Celsius will likely be the criterion.

The government initially planned to transport about 360 people in two flights but now appears to be consolidating them into one flight. Those on the first chartered flight will arrive at Gimpo Airport on the morning of the 31st. After a second quarantine check, including fever screening, they will be quarantined for 14 days at the Asan Police Human Resources Development Institute in Chungnam and the Jincheon National Government Officials Human Resources Development Institute.

The government will continue to negotiate with the Chinese side regarding plans to transport Koreans who could not board the flight on this day.