Four Japanese not allowed to visit Korea on first day of entry limit
A Gimpo Airport official wearing a face mask passes by check-in counters of Japan Airlines at Gimpo Airport in Seoul, Monday, March 9, 2020. Korea announced it will end visa-free entry for Japanese citizens starting Monday in retaliation for a two-week quarantine imposed by Japan on all visitors from Korea because of its surging viral outbreak. AP
Four Japanese nationals without an entry visa for South Korea were not allowed to board an airplane bound for Seoul on Monday, the first day of the two countries' entry restrictions on each other's citizens, the Ministry of Justice said Tuesday.
South Korea halted a 90-day visa-free entry program for Japanese nationals, effective Monday morning, over new coronavirus concerns, while Japan simultaneously implemented similar entry restrictions for South Koreans for the same reason.
The ministry said the four Japanese citizens were prevented from boarding flights for South Korea after their visa status was screened by the Incoming Passenger Card (IPC) system. IPC is a system that helps immigration authorities check the entry eligibility of international passengers.
On the same day, a total of five Japanese nationals entered South Korea via flights originating from Japan, the ministry noted. All of them were not subject to the entry restrictions, as they have been staying in South Korea for a long time with professional employment and special activity visas, it explained.
Meanwhile, five South Korean nationals entered Japan on Monday after departing from South Korea, the ministry said, adding a total of 464 South Korean nationals arrived here from Japan on the same day.
South Korea has so far reported over 7,500 COVID-19 infections, while Japan has logged more than 500 patients. (Yonhap)