Second Evacuation of Overseas Koreans, Government Rapid Response Team "Doing Our Best to Return More Quickly Than the First"

Charter Flight 2 Departs from Gimpo Airport at 8:45 PM on the 31st

On the morning of the 31st, quarantine officials moved to carry out disinfection work on a charter flight carrying Korean residents from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, where the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) occurred, at Gimpo International Airport in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The government rapid response team assisting the additional return of Korean nationals staying in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, the origin of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), and nearby areas, stated that they will "ensure a swift return."

On the 31st, Lee Sang-jin, head of the second government rapid response team and Director of the Overseas Koreans and Consular Affairs Office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said to reporters at Gimpo Airport, "In the second phase, we will enable a safer and faster return through quarantine procedures faster than the first phase."

The first charter flight departed from Wuhan Tianhe Airport at 6:03 a.m., later than originally scheduled due to the Chinese side's quarantine process. The second charter flight is scheduled to depart from Tianhe Airport at 2:45 a.m. on the 1st of next month.

Director Lee explained, "The expected number of passengers for the second charter flight is around 350, but this may change depending on local circumstances," adding, "Since some passengers are coming from the outskirts of Wuhan, we will do our best to accommodate as many of them as possible."

Regarding additional flights, he responded that decisions will be made with time. He said, "Since most of the scheduled passengers can be accommodated, we will consider the issue of additional flights over time."

The second charter flight is scheduled to depart from Gimpo Airport at 8:45 p.m. on the same day.