THREATS FROM NORTH KOREA: Jeju Island suspends visa-free entry policy due to coronavirus threat

South Korea has suspended its visa-free entry policy to Jeju Island, affecting the Philippines and 61 other nations, owing to the threat of the novel coronavirus.

“In an effort to help stem the spread of novel coronavirus, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Korea has suspended visa-free entry to Jeju Special Self-Governing Province beginning Feb. 4. This temporary measure is aimed at stopping any new coronavirus infections in the province and mainland, by strengthening entry procedures. This includes the screening of new visas,” the Jeju Tourism Organization announced.

Before the suspension, Philippine passport holders were allowed to enter Jeju Island without a visa through direct flights and ships. They are now required to have a valid visa to travel to the island.

Besides the Philippines, those affected by the visa suspension policy are regular passport holders from Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Gabon, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Lebanon, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Oman, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. Official and general passport holders from Jordan and Turkmenistan are also covered by the new rule.

Also affected by new policy are diplomatic, official, and regular passport holders from  Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The Korean Embassy in Manila has also announced the new Jeju Island policy. It said “the Korean Government has announced that the visa-free entry to Jeju Island and visa free entry for transit passengers who depart from China are suspended until further notice.”

“In addition, starting February 4, 2020, any foreigner who have visited or stayed in the Hubei Province, China – within the last 14 days, are not permitted to enter Korea,” it added.

As of Feb. 6, South Korea has 23 confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

Source: Manila Bulletin