Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Support Return of Russian Nationals Abroad with Cargo Plane to Passenger Plane 'Permission Change'

Overseas Koreans and expatriates from the Milan area in Italy are returning to Korea on the 1st via a charter flight, arriving through Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport. Immediately after arrival, they all move to a designated facility to undergo COVID-19 testing. If everyone tests negative, they proceed to self-quarantine, but if even one person tests positive, all will be placed in facility quarantine for 14 days. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is arranging flights to bring back Korean nationals residing in Russia. The ministry plans to obtain permission to operate Korean Air cargo planes flying into Russia as passenger flights to transport overseas nationals.

On the 2nd, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official explained regarding about 200 overseas nationals in Moscow, Russia requesting government support, “We are working to change the operation permit of Korean Air cargo planes entering Russia next week to passenger flights,” adding, “We need to get the passenger flight operation permit and are consulting with the embassy.” The plan is to operate the flights as cargo planes when departing for Russia and change the permit to passenger flights when returning to Korea.

More than 250 Korean nationals in India are also expected to return home after consultations with airlines. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said, “The Korean Association in India is negotiating with airlines regarding temporary flights,” and “Around the 5th, about 250 people are expected to fly from Delhi to Seoul.”

In New Zealand, which has allowed temporary flights for foreigners to return home, overseas nationals are reportedly preparing to enter the country. Five Koreans in Serbia, who purchased a large amount of medical equipment from Korea, plan to return home using flights that will transport the medical equipment and then bring them back.

The number of cases returning home via flights transporting medical equipment is expected to steadily increase. In Myanmar, five flights were authorized to bring in protective suits, and 127 people returned on these flights on the 31st of last month. An additional 150 to 250 people are scheduled to arrive on the 8th.

Meanwhile, as the Hungarian government has allowed limited entry for businesspeople, overseas nationals are returning on flights used by SK Innovation personnel traveling from Korea to Hungary. The flight between Budapest, Hungary, and Incheon will depart Budapest at 4 p.m. on the 6th and arrive in Incheon at 10 a.m. on the 7th.