◀ Anchor ▶
China has decided to make COVID-19 testing mandatory for all South Korean applicants starting tomorrow, and if they test positive, they will be quarantined.
It is interpreted as a response to the Korean government’s extension to stop issuing visas to Chinese nationals.
The Korean government has announced that it will review ways to lift entry restrictions early depending on the corona situation in China.
Reporter Jo Hee-hyung covered the story.
◀ Report ▶
China has lifted quarantine measures for arrivals from the 8th.
It is possible to enter the country only with a negative PCR test, and the PCR test received at the airport is gone.
[자오 씨/홍콩발 입국자 (지난 8일)]
“The immigration process was very smooth. There was no difference since before the corona.”
However, passengers coming from Korea will be exempt from this in the future.
The Chinese government informed the Korean government that “it will be mandatory for all travelers arriving from Korea to undergo a PCR test after entering the country, and if they are positive, they will be quarantined.”
The isolation place is called a home, facility, or hospital, but the embassy also calculates the specific place, cost and duration.
There are about 60 flights from Korea to China every week.
It will be implemented from tomorrow, and passengers from Korea entering Nanjing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, etc. will be the first to apply.
China explained that it was an equal measure to South Korea’s policy of regulating new arrivals from China.
[마오닝/외교부 대변인]
“Individual countries still maintain discriminatory access restrictions against China. China is strongly against this and has reasons to take equal measures.”
Previously, the Korean government extended short-term visa restrictions for Chinese by another month until the 28th of next month.
In response to China’s opposition, Prime Minister Han Deok-soo said he would consider lifting entry restrictions early depending on China’s corona situation.
[한덕수/국무총리]
“We (We) will consider whether or not to raise it even if it’s not until February 28th if it’s deemed tolerable…”
An airline industry insider recently reported that there are more Korean than Chinese passengers on Korea-China air routes.
It means that the Koreans suffer more inconvenience due to the access restrictions between Korea and China.
This is MBC News Cho Hee-hyung from Beijing.
Video comment: Farewell (Beijing) / Video editing: Farewell (Beijing), Kim Chang-gyu
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