"Great Escape Like a Disaster Movie"... Endless Returnee Line

Triple Hardships of Racism, Infection Risk, and School Closures
International Students Returning from Europe and North America

Racial Slurs for a Single Cough
Airfare Booking Battles Since Early This Month
Looking at Healthcare Systems, We Are the Advanced Country

Transit Flights from Europe and Middle East Canceled
Students Remaining Locally Are Anxious
"Why Are You Returning?" Uncomfortable Glances Too

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] "I coughed once in a restaurant and was met with racist insults. It was because I am Asian."

Song Mo (23), who is majoring in hotel management at University A in Switzerland, still gets goosebumps just thinking about that day. There were many local customers in the restaurant at the time. Among them, only Song and his group were wearing masks. Even so, Song had to endure loud voices and insults from other customers just because of a slight cough. "I was planning to return to Korea anyway since the school was closed, but that incident made me hurry my return decisively."

On the afternoon of the 24th, Song Mo (23), a Swiss international student, was waiting at Incheon Airport for a specimen test.

◆Escaping Europe under lockdown... Korean-bound tickets are like 'catching stars in the sky' = Song barely returned home on the 24th, but the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation in Europe is worsening to the point of resembling a disaster movie. Song said, "In Switzerland, with a population of 8.65 million, over 10,000 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed. In neighboring Italy, thousands have died, and nationwide lockdowns and movement restrictions have been imposed, making the situation very serious," shaking his head.

Choi Ji-hee (22, Department of Industrial Design, Hongik University), who went to a design school in Paris, France as an exchange student and returned the day before (the 25th), came back after attending school for just over two months. Choi said, "The school closed on the 19th, and the French government even recommended vacating the Paris International University Village (dormitory). Masks, which are difficult to obtain in Korea, require prescriptions to purchase in France, increasing the risk of infection," conveying the urgent situation.

As confirmed cases surge in the US and Europe, a wave of returning international students is underway. While there is a risk of infection, intensified racial discrimination is also a factor. However, their entry process is not smooth.

The arrival hall at Incheon Airport on the afternoon of the 24th, photographed by Choi Ji-hee, who went to Paris, France as an exchange student and has returned.

Song said, "I originally booked a flight ticket to Korea on the 23rd through a Middle Eastern airline, but it was canceled because that country banned landing of transit flights," adding, "After trying every possible way through the embassy and study abroad agencies, I was able to book a flight departing from Frankfurt, Germany." Choi also said, "I struggled because a previously booked flight was canceled," and added, "Since it was difficult to book tickets locally, I called the Korean branch of Korean Air and was able to make a reservation."

Currently, European and Middle Eastern countries are refusing transit flights and canceling flights one after another, making it nearly impossible to get tickets to return to Korea. International students who have not yet returned are anxiously waiting.

◆"I thought they were advanced countries, but Korea is better" = Returning international students realized anew that Korea is an advanced country through airport quarantine experiences. Song, who underwent specimen testing at the airport due to fever and sore throat, evaluated, "Compared to other countries I thought were advanced, Korea is handling the fear of infectious disease spread much better." Choi emphasized, "From rapid and transparent COVID-19 diagnostic testing to mask supply, there is no European country more advanced than Korea in responding to COVID-19."

From the quarantine process after arrival, they received detailed guidance from health authorities on isolation rules and personal hygiene. Song said, "Other countries are either indifferent or even show a sense of security negligence toward COVID-19, but Korea has a strong mindset of 'Let's overcome COVID-19,'" and added, "I think the citizens' habitual behaviors such as wearing masks and using hand sanitizers prevented further spread."

However, there are also critical views toward the returning international students. Recently, verbal abuse toward returning overseas Koreans and students has increased on portal site comments and online communities. Comments like "Why are you coming back in this situation?" and "If you didn't like Korea, stay where you are" are common. Although these are the views of a few, they have left emotional scars on young people in their twenties.