South Korea Bans Visit Visa

On Sunday, the South Korean government said it would tighten visa and entry controls for those arriving from Pakistan and Bangladesh this week, as the country recently reported a increase in novel coronavirus cases brought from both nations.

The authorities will restrict issuing visas to people from Pakistan and Bangladesh, except for diplomatic and urgent business purposes, under the precautionary measures set to take effect from Tuesday on. Around the same time , non-scheduled flights between South Korea and those countries will not be permitted for temporarily.

In addition , the government will thoroughly monitor whether foreigners with non-professional employment (E-9) visas have pre-arrival places in South Korea for a two-week self-quarantine. Those who do not secure proper facilities shall be forbidden to enter the country.

The toughened access limits came when in June South Korea experienced a sharp curve with new cases with coronavirus from abroad.

The number of imported COVID-19 cases reached 13 on June 12 and a 68-day high of 17 on Friday.

The daily number of international arrivals also rose to 1,300 in recent days, up from about 1,000 a day in April, according to the government.

“Some imported cases come from countries that have had severe infections lately,” Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said in a press conference. “A rise in imported cases places a burden on our capacities for quarantine and treatment.”

South Korea has been grappling in Seoul and nearby areas with a outbreak in new coronavirus infections. This registered 48 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, including eight imported cases, with a total number of up to 12,421.