Kang Kyung-hwa Calls with Biegun, Strongly Urges "Restraint on Excessive Measures"... US Advises Travel Ban to Daegu

Phone Call on the Morning of the 1st, Korean Government Explains Comprehensive Quarantine Measures
Vegan "Highly Appreciates Transparent and Open Response"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha had a phone call with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on the morning of the 1st and strongly requested that "excessive measures that could unnecessarily shrink exchanges between the two countries be restrained."

Deputy Secretary Biegun is in charge of overseeing the response to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the United States. On the 29th (local time), the U.S. raised the State Department travel advisory for Daegu, where COVID-19 cases surged, to the highest level of 'Do Not Travel.' However, the travel advisory for South Korea itself remained at Level 3, 'Reconsider Travel.'

The U.S. State Department had upgraded South Korea's travel advisory from Level 1 to Level 2, indicating increased caution, on the 22nd, and then raised it to Level 3, 'Reconsider Travel,' just four days later on the 26th. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had already issued a Level 3 (Warning) travel advisory for South Korea on the 24th.

Minister Kang emphasized to Deputy Secretary Biegun that "although COVID-19 is spreading within South Korea, it is mainly concentrated in certain regions," and added, "Our government is conducting proactive full-scale investigations based on a high level of testing capacity, sharing the results quickly and transparently with the public, and implementing comprehensive quarantine measures, making every effort to respond to the situation."

In response, Deputy Secretary Biegun expressed gratitude for Minister Kang's detailed explanation and said, "We highly appreciate South Korea's transparent and open response," adding, "We will continue close communication and cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. for effective COVID-19 response."