Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Half of Foreign Deceased's Bereaved Families Repatriate Bodies to Home Country"

Two Deceased Undocumented Foreigners Also Receive Relief Funds...Official States "Decided by Actively Interpreting the Law"
Cooperation with Ministry of Justice for Family Members' Entry Convenience

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] It has been identified that about half of the bereaved families of foreign victims who died in the Itaewon disaster wish to have the bodies transported back to their home countries.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated to reporters on the 2nd regarding the support status for foreign casualties, “Some choose cremation and depart from here, while there are cases requesting to be interred domestically. About half wish to have the bodies transported abroad.”

On the 29th of last month, a total of 26 foreigners from 14 countries including Iran, China, Russia, the United States, and Japan died in the Itaewon disaster.

Among them, one body has already been transported abroad, and two more are scheduled to be transported soon.

Seven families of the foreign deceased have already entered Korea, and additional arrivals are planned.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is cooperating with the Ministry of Justice and others to simplify the entry procedures into Korea as much as possible for the convenience of the bereaved families of foreign victims.

For families from countries eligible for visa-free entry to Korea, the electronic travel authorization (K-ETA) requirement has been waived, and for countries requiring visas, arrival visas can be obtained at Incheon Airport.

The government provides funeral expenses of 15 million KRW and relief funds of 20 million KRW to foreign deceased victims on the same basis as for Korean nationals. The official added that if the bereaved families cannot come in person, they can receive the funds through a proxy with a power of attorney.

Additionally, the government decided to provide funeral expenses, medical expenses, and relief funds including repatriation costs on humanitarian grounds for two foreign deceased whose legal stay period in Korea had expired.

Although the guidelines for social disaster relief and recovery cost burden state that foreigners whose stay period has expired without proper legal procedures are excluded from support, the official explained that support was decided from a humanitarian perspective.

He explained, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed this, and after discussions among ministers, it was decided by actively interpreting the main law (the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety).”

It is known that the need for related legal revisions was also raised during internal government discussions.

Meanwhile, a total of 20 foreign injured have been identified. As of 2 p.m. on that day, 16 have been discharged and 4 are receiving hospital treatment. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs official stated, “There is no life-threatening condition.”