A line exclusively for entrants from China is set up to guide them to a COVID-19 testing station upon arrival at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Jan. 2, 2023, when South Korea began to require a PCR test for all travelers from China as the virus explosively spreads in the neighboring country. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — As more than 15 countries have imposed stricter quarantine measures against travelers coming from China, Beijing has recently suspended all issuance of short-term, transit visas and visas on arrival to Korean and Japanese nationals.
Beijing explained that the measure was based on the principle of reciprocity. However, there are views that it is a form of political retribution amid cold relations between South Korea and China.
China’s call for reciprocity has multiple errors. First, it lacks consistency.
On Jan. 2, South Korea stopped issuing short-term visas to Chinese nationals, introduced other quarantine measures like medical check-ups before and after arrival, and suspended all plans to add more flights.
Japan also imposed stricter quarantine measures but did not suspend the issuance of visas to Chinese nationals.
Nevertheless, China chose to impose retribution on both countries on equal terms, without providing any context for the decision.
China has failed to make any response to the United States and other European countries that have imposed quarantine measures against China that are as strict as Japan.
In fact, China is eager to restore flights to the U.S. following the pandemic.
China’s decision seemed to have been largely influenced by fake news.
Global Times, China’s state-run tabloid, referred to a Chinese netizen who argued that South Korea’s quarantine measures pertain only to Chinese nationals and that there were no beds or hot water in the quarantine facility for foreigners despite the individual having paid a considerable amount of money.
Asking short-term travelers from China to wear a yellow card to distinguish them from others at Incheon International Airport has sparked frustration that such a measure is carried out only for Chinese nationals.
“The hotel guestrooms are also used by Korean nationals. They come with clean beds, and clean restrooms that provide warm water by default,” the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare said.
“The yellow card is used to guide travelers to a COVID-19 testing at Incheon International Airport. The yellow card is given to whoever is necessary, regardless of their nationality,” a government official added.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
