South Korea eyes early lifting of Covid-19 visa curbs on travellers from China
- The government said it could consider removing the restriction on short-term visas for travellers from China before February-end if Covid cases in China is manageable
- The tourism and aviation sectors have been hit by both countries’ decision to suspend issuing short-term visas
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Seoul could consider lifting the restriction on short-term visas for travellers from China before the end of February if the number of Covid infections in China is manageable, Yonhap news agency reported.
“If [the situation] is endurable given the PCR Covid-19 test results, the lifting [of restrictions] could be considered earlier,” Han said.
His comment comes as the tourism and aviation sectors have been hit by both countries’ decision to suspend issuing short-term visas.
China plans to require all passengers on direct flights from South Korea to undergo a PCR test upon arrival, starting from February 1, the South Korean embassy in Beijing said.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said, “It is regrettable that individual countries persist on implementing discriminatory entry restrictions against China, to which China is firmly opposed and has reason to take reciprocal measures against.”
