청 "No Practical Benefit in Complete Ban on Chinese Entry... Regret Over Claims of 'Watching China'"

Kang Min-seok, Blue House Spokesperson [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] On the 27th, the Blue House stated regarding the request for a 'ban on Chinese entry' due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) situation, "We have determined that a complete entry ban has no practical benefit," and added, "It is regrettable that some claim that not completely banning Chinese entry is 'caving to China'." This is the first time the Blue House has officially expressed its position on the ban on Chinese entry.

Kang Min-seok, the Blue House spokesperson, said in an afternoon briefing, "The government's decision not to completely restrict Chinese entry is the result of reviewing the 'best response plan' while prioritizing the safety of our citizens," and added, "The government has coldly considered the practical aspects of quarantine and the interests of the people." Kang also mentioned, "Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (Chairman of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters) and others have repeatedly stated the government's position on this issue," but said, "Since the controversy has not subsided, I would like to explain in detail the reasons," and elaborated on five reasons behind the government's decision not to impose a full entry ban on Chinese nationals.

Kang explained, "First, the authorities' 'special entry procedures' are effectively operating," and added, "Since the 4th, entry procedures from China have been strengthened to thoroughly identify entrants and minimize entry." The 'special entry procedures' implemented by the government involve creating a separate entry gate exclusively for China, where disinfection and fever checks are conducted, and entry is only allowed if no abnormal symptoms are detected. All domestic and foreign nationals entering the country must present their domestic residence and contact information, and entry is permitted only after confirming that contact can be made on-site without any abnormalities. Additionally, entrants must install a 'self-diagnosis application' to assess their health status and input personal information to be allowed entry.

Kang emphasized, "Not only for China but also for entrants from Hong Kong and Macau, our country's special entry procedures mandate the installation of the 'self-diagnosis app,' and foreign media have described the quarantine authorities' response as 'unique'."

According to Kang, among the 1,595 confirmed cases in the country as of today, 11 are Chinese nationals. Of those, four are presumed to have been infected in China before the special entry procedures were established (entrants before January 31), with three fully recovered and one in stable condition. Since the special entry procedures were implemented on the 4th, there have been five confirmed Chinese cases, but these are not recent entrants. Additionally, two confirmed cases earlier this month were a Chinese couple who entered from Japan. In other words, since the government started operating the quarantine network, there have been no confirmed cases from Chinese entrants.

Kang reiterated, "Chinese entrants are being managed stably," and added, "Among 13,436 Chinese international students who entered through the special entry procedures, universities have conducted intensive monitoring for two weeks, and the government has provided special management, but there have been no confirmed cases so far."

The potential harm to Korean citizens due to entry bans is also an important consideration. According to statistics from the Ministry of Justice's Immigration Situation Room, Hubei Province, the origin of COVID-19, remains sealed off, so no entrants have come from there. The number of Chinese entrants from regions outside Hubei Province was 1,404 yesterday and 1,824 on the 25th.

On the other hand, the number of Korean nationals traveling to China has been increasing this month (3,337 on the 25th, 3,697 on the 26th). Kang said, "The number of Koreans heading to China is nearly twice that of Chinese entering Korea," and added, "A complete entry ban to block Chinese entry, which has dropped to the 1,000s, could inadvertently cause harm to our citizens, which is why the government finds it undesirable."

Kang also noted, "It is important to pay attention to the recent announcements that the number of confirmed cases in China is significantly decreasing." According to Chinese reports, new confirmed cases recorded 1,749 on the 18th, then decreased to 820 on the 19th, and continued to decline to 406 on the 25th.

Especially, excluding the already sealed-off Hubei Province, new confirmed cases in other regions have decreased from 31 on the 21st to 18 on the 22nd, 11 on the 23rd, 9 on the 24th, and 5 on the 25th.

Kang said, "The government's measures are also aligned with the World Health Organization (WHO)'s infectious disease response guidelines," and added, "International experts have diagnosed that 'a complete entry ban on Chinese nationals has limited blocking effects.'" He reiterated, "The international consensus is that infectious diseases can be overcome not by blocking but through 'international solidarity' and cooperation."