Korea responds to Japan's entry restrictions 'politically'

By Kang Seung-woo

The government's quick and loud response to Japan's entry restrictions on Korean citizens and anyone traveling from Korea to Japan, due to the coronavirus epidemic, is raising some eyebrows given that it has not taken any retaliatory action against the more than 100 countries imposing similar or stricter measures.

Diplomatic experts say Seoul's tit-for-tat response to Japan was driven less by quarantine needs but more by a political motive ahead of the upcoming April 15 general election.

Less than a day after the Shinzo Abe administration unveiled its travel restrictions including halting a visa-free entry program for Korean nationals, Thursday night, the government ― from the presidential national security director to the prime minister and the foreign minister ― stepped up criticism of the decision. Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha herself summoned Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Koji Tomita, Friday, to protest the move ― a rare case for the top diplomat to call in an ambassador instead of a vice minister.

And a few hours later, the foreign ministry abruptly held a press briefing to announce “countermeasures” including suspending a visa-free entry program for Japanese nationals, and applying special entry procedures for all foreigners traveling from the neighboring country, which will take effect today. It also raised its travel advisory alerts for Japan to Level 2, which advises Koreans to refrain from visiting the country.

However, such retaliatory actions are in sharp contrast to the government's response to other countries which have banned or restricted the entry of people traveling from Korea due to the surge in coronavirus cases here ― particularly China.

A total of 18 Chinese provinces and cities toughened entry restrictions on travelers from Korea, without prior notice, quarantining nearly 900 people as of Sunday.

When Weihai in Shandong Province first enforced unannounced quarantine steps against visitors from Korea, with other provinces following suit, the foreign ministry protested to the Chinese government, bringing Chinese Ambassador to Korea Xing Haiming into the foreign ministry, where Deputy Foreign Minister Kim Gunn expressed concern over cases of “excessive restrictions” against Koreans and visitors from Korea.

However, the ministry toned down the move, calling it a “consultation,” not a “summoning.” In addition, it stressed that such quarantine measures were imposed by provincial administrations, not the central government.

Leif-Eric Easley, an associate professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University, said Korea's reaction to Japan looks politically motivated and based on a misperception that Japan's actions were all about Korea.

“Over 100 countries have imposed such travel restrictions and China's are perhaps the most offensive after Korea showed great restraint compared to other nations in limiting Chinese visitors. By responding so quickly and vocally to Japan's measures, the Moon (Jae-in) administration appears to be performing for a domestic audience ahead of legislative elections in April,” Easley said, adding that Japan's actions were focused on domestic approval, Chinese leader Xi Jinping's state visit, and the summer Olympics, not some anti-Korea bias.

“Most leaders agree COVID-19 response measures should be based on science. But they don't agree on the science, and the social and diplomatic implications are massive, so politics becomes a major factor. Recognizing this, it is essential that government policies prioritize public health and international cooperation.”

Amid the intensifying diplomatic feud between Korea and Japan, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged the two sides to refrain from a “political spat.”

“I think we should focus on that and not necessarily on political spats on travel restrictions. It's very, very important that people understand that these types of restrictions are not helping,” said Michael Ryan, who heads the WHO's emergency response program, in a briefing Friday.

As of Sunday, a total of 103 countries and regions have imposed bans or restrictions on travelers from Korea despite the government's efforts to prevent them, such as the foreign minister giving a briefing to foreign diplomats, Friday.

Meanwhile, the government is reviewing a plan to arrange a charter flight to Iran this week to repatriate Korean nationals from the country that has also been hit hard by the epidemic. As of Friday, the number of coronavirus cases there stood at 4,747 including 124 fatalities.

According to the foreign ministry, it is in talks with Tehran to help Korean citizens return home within this week ― about 100 out of 220 Korean residents there are expected to be on the flight.