Entry Ban Countries Steadily Decreasing... Government Negotiates Additional Fast Track System with Vietnam, Japan, and Others
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The threshold of borders, which had risen due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), is slowly but continuously lowering. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha personally visited Vietnam to discuss the introduction of a 'fast track' system that simplifies entry procedures for essential personnel such as businesspeople, and the government is also continuing consultations with Japan to ease entry restrictions.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 19th (as of the 18th), 82 countries have imposed entry bans on travelers from Korea. Six countries, including the United States, Burundi, Benin, and Sierra Leone, have implemented facility quarantine measures.
Seventy-six countries have been confirmed to have taken relatively relaxed measures such as strengthened quarantine and recommendations. Countries on this list include India, Cambodia, Thailand, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Denmark, Sweden, and Spain.
Twenty-four countries have lifted entry-related measures for arrivals from Korea. Countries that have lifted entry restrictions include Finland, France, Portugal, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Poland, Greece, and the Netherlands.
As COVID-19 spreads again, increasing anxiety, the government is continuing intergovernmental negotiations to guarantee the movement of essential personnel such as businesspeople. In May, the fast track system was introduced and implemented with China, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Indonesia, and Singapore have also adopted the same system.
Minister Kang Kyung-wha personally visited Vietnam from the 17th to the 18th for a one-night, two-day trip to discuss the introduction of the fast track system in order to resume face-to-face diplomacy blocked by the spread of COVID-19. This was her second business trip following Germany last month.
On the 17th, Minister Kang had a roughly one-hour meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and on the 18th, she met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh to exchange views on the introduction of the fast track system and cooperation measures for responding to COVID-19. In particular, both countries agreed on the necessity of introducing the fast track system and decided to seek concrete measures.
Deputy Prime Minister Minh said, "It seems that a plan to simplify entry procedures under more favorable conditions for Korean businesspeople and other essential personnel will soon be prepared," adding, "Let us closely consult to reach a practical agreement on the specific measures."
Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is conducting consultations with Japan to ease entry restrictions. Since March, Japan has suspended visa-free entry and suspended the validity of already issued visas as measures to prevent the re-importation of COVID-19.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, "We have been discussing ways to simplify entry procedures for businesspeople to guarantee mutual entry and free economic activities and minimize the economic impact caused by COVID-19," adding, "While maintaining quarantine capabilities with the Japanese side, both countries agreed on the need for smooth entry procedures for essential economic activities of businesspeople, and consultations have been initiated and are ongoing."
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