3rd Israel Charter Flight Canceled Due to Low Demand... Ministry of Foreign Affairs Supports Korean Tourists' Return via Regular Flights

Over 30 Koreans Quarantined in Moriseosyus Also Return Home via Regular Flights

The first Israeli charter flight carrying 221 Korean tourists arrived at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport on the 25th.
Yeongjongdo - Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The third temporary flight, which was scheduled to be deployed to support the return of Korean travelers stranded in Israel, has been canceled due to insufficient demand. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to arrange other regular flights to assist Korean tourists in returning home.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 25th, the third temporary flight provided by the Israeli government was canceled due to a lack of Korean tourists wishing to board. It is known that only about 10 Korean tourists wanted to board. The third temporary flight was originally scheduled to arrive at Incheon International Airport on the 26th.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to support Korean tourists wishing to return home by enabling them to return via regular flights. The estimated number of Koreans remaining locally is about 300 to 400.

The Israeli government banned the entry of Koreans on the 22nd without prior consultation with the Korean government. Subsequently, starting from the 24th, it officially announced a ban on the entry of foreigners with a history of visiting Korea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Israeli charg? d'affaires immediately after confirming the ban on Korean entry, demanding prevention of recurrence and strongly protesting.

Earlier that day, 221 Korean travelers arrived at Incheon International Airport via the first temporary flight (LY063). They underwent airport quarantine procedures and were sent home. The second temporary flight (LY065), carrying 196 Korean tourists, also arrived at Incheon International Airport around 3 p.m. that day.

Meanwhile, about 30 Koreans quarantined on the African island nation of Mauritius will return home that night via a regular flight. Mauritius had suspended the entry of Koreans arriving locally without consultation with the Korean government as COVID-19 cases surged in Korea. The Mauritius government later announced a temporary ban on the entry of all foreigners departing from or having visited Korea, Italy, and other countries within the past 14 days.