South Koreans Shunned in More and More Countries

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on March 5 that a total of 98 countries are prohibiting or restricting the entry of South Koreans with the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections having topped 6,000 in South Korea.

At present, 23 countries are quarantining South Koreans and non-South Koreans who recently visited South Korea. In China, 16 provinces are taking the measure. A total of 1,100 South Koreans were quarantined until March 4 in Vietnam and China. The South Korean government sent personnel to Vietnam for those quarantined in Vietnam.

The number of such countries is likely to increase for a while in that mass infection is spreading across South Korea from Daegu City and North Gyeongsang Province. Japan and Sri Lanka are planning to take the measure in the near future and more countries are likely to follow suit.

Under the circumstances, South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s diplomatic schedule is being affected. Recently, he decided not to participate in the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant operation commencement ceremony in the United Arab Emirates scheduled for this month. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections and the number of deaths attributable to the coronavirus reached 6,088 and 42 at 7:40 p.m., March 5, respectively.