Won Hee-ryong: "Entry Ban Needed for Places with Over 300 Cases of New Coronavirus in China"

"Jeju Island Visa-Free Program Should Be Suspended"

As fear of the novel coronavirus infection spreads in the Jeju community, on the morning of the 2nd, Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong (right) is giving a related briefing at Jeju Provincial Office. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] The government announced a complete ban on the entry of foreigners who have visited or stayed in Hubei Province, China, the origin of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), to prevent its spread. In response, Jeju Province Governor Won Heeryong stated on the 3rd, "Entry should also be banned from places in China where more than 300 cases of the novel coronavirus have occurred."

In an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jongbae's Focus' on the same day, Governor Won said, "Currently, only those who stayed in Hubei Province are banned from entering. However, since the 23rd, no one has left Hubei Province. In fact, their incubation period will end by tomorrow, and there are already over 300 confirmed cases in six other provinces besides Hubei," he said.

As fear of the novel coronavirus infection spreads in the Jeju community, domestic and international travelers arriving through Jeju International Airport on the morning of the 2nd are heading to the parking lot armed with masks.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Governor Won added, "It would be better to have a complete entry ban. Even if not complete, direct flights from Chinese provinces with more than 300 cases should be suspended for now, and entry should be banned for those holding passports issued by those provinces."

Regarding his official proposal to the government the previous day to temporarily suspend the visa-free entry system for Chinese visitors to Jeju Island, Governor Won said, "For those working in Jeju tourism, losing customers overnight is no small matter," but added, "However, since the spread in China shows no signs of subsiding, minimizing patient inflow at this point is necessary for our country's medical capacity to handle."

He continued, "Currently, if travelers apply for a trip with Jeju Island as the final destination, they can enter other cities with inland airports visa-free for five days," and added, "Suspending the visa-free entry for Jeju Island would prevent Chinese visitors from entering other airports nationwide visa-free."