Entry procedures simplified for S. Korean workers when heading to China
- 4 years ago
韓中 '기업인 입국절차 간소화' 패스트트랙 합의... 5월 1일부터 중국 10개 지역에 적용
The coronavirus pandemic has made travel between countries extremely difficult - even impossible in many cases, possibly effective in putting tabs on spread of the virus but hampering business.
South Korea and China have decided to simplify entry procedures for business travels from both sides to help minimize fallout from COVID-19 entry curbs.
Oh Jung-hee reports.
Starting this Friday, South Korean company employees will have a much simpler way to get into China than people from other countries.
"South Korea and China have agreed to establish a fast-track system that minimizes entry procedures for business people so they can engage in essential economic activities. The simplified procedures apply once they have satisfied the agreed-upon quarantine procedures."
To bring people over from South Korea, companies in China, including Korean ones, should file a request with their local municipal government... in China.
Once the local authorities issue an "invitation," workers can pick up their visa from the Chinese embassy in Seoul.
The employees they bring over are required to be tested for COVID-19 before they leave Korea and when they land in China.
And once in China, they are quarantined for one or two days much less than the previous 14.
The fast-track system starts on May 1st and initially applies to 10 areas in China where there are the most interactions between Korean and Chinese companies.
Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing are among those, but the capital Beijing is not.
Chinese staff bound for South Korea should submit COVID-19 test results within 72 hours of embarking for Korea and will be tested once they arrive.
"This fast-track system between South Korea and China is the first time China has simplified its entry procedures for any foreign workers, and it's also the first time the employees of South Korean companies have been granted simplified entry to other countries. We expect this will minimize the socioeconomic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak."
Seoul says the two countries will continue their discussions to expand the program.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
The coronavirus pandemic has made travel between countries extremely difficult - even impossible in many cases, possibly effective in putting tabs on spread of the virus but hampering business.
South Korea and China have decided to simplify entry procedures for business travels from both sides to help minimize fallout from COVID-19 entry curbs.
Oh Jung-hee reports.
Starting this Friday, South Korean company employees will have a much simpler way to get into China than people from other countries.
"South Korea and China have agreed to establish a fast-track system that minimizes entry procedures for business people so they can engage in essential economic activities. The simplified procedures apply once they have satisfied the agreed-upon quarantine procedures."
To bring people over from South Korea, companies in China, including Korean ones, should file a request with their local municipal government... in China.
Once the local authorities issue an "invitation," workers can pick up their visa from the Chinese embassy in Seoul.
The employees they bring over are required to be tested for COVID-19 before they leave Korea and when they land in China.
And once in China, they are quarantined for one or two days much less than the previous 14.
The fast-track system starts on May 1st and initially applies to 10 areas in China where there are the most interactions between Korean and Chinese companies.
Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing are among those, but the capital Beijing is not.
Chinese staff bound for South Korea should submit COVID-19 test results within 72 hours of embarking for Korea and will be tested once they arrive.
"This fast-track system between South Korea and China is the first time China has simplified its entry procedures for any foreign workers, and it's also the first time the employees of South Korean companies have been granted simplified entry to other countries. We expect this will minimize the socioeconomic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak."
Seoul says the two countries will continue their discussions to expand the program.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.