Gov't under pressure to ban Chinese from entering Korea

A KORAIL official sprays disinfectant at Seoul Station, Monday, as part of the nation's ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus here. / Yonhap

By Jun Ji-hye

The government faced growing pressure from civic groups and political parties Monday to ban Chinese people from entering the country amid mounting fears over the spread of a new coronavirus that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

Calls from citizens and politicians for the entry ban are increasing after Korea confirmed its fourth case of the Wuhan coronavirus at a time when the death toll has already reached over 80 in China, with the viral illness having already spread to other parts of the world.

A petition on the presidential office website demand the ban has garnered more than 400,000 supporters as of Monday morning.

The petition, submitted last Thursday, called for the government to impose the ban at least during the seven-day Chinese New Year holiday.

“Even North Korea has imposed an entry ban,” the petitioner said. “It will be too late to act after the epidemic already spreads to Korea. The government should take pre-emptive measures.”

The presidential office responds to petitions that gain the support of more than 200,000 people in 30 days. Cheong Wa Dae has yet to announce a plan to respond to the petition, but is expected to respond as the number of supporters has already exceeded 200,000.

Rep. Shim Jae-cheol, floor leader of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, called on President Moon Jae-in to be more active in dealing with the situation rather than just asking the people to trust the government.

“More than 400,000 people have participated in the Cheong Wa Dae petition. The government should seriously consider imposing the entry ban on Chinese tourists,” Shim said during a press conference. “Health Minister Park Neung-hoo should order the ministry to do everything it can to protect Korean people.”

Minor opposition Bareunmirae Party spokesman Kang Shin-eop asked the government to declare a state of emergency and also consider imposing a temporary entry ban on people from China.

“The government should also transparently disclose all information related to the novel coronavirus,” he said.

The Korean Medical Association, the largest group of medical doctors in Korea, said the government should secure a list of those who have entered Korea from Wuhan and other areas in Hubei Province over the past three weeks, to track the path of the coronavirus and control any infections.

It said a ban on Chinese tourists would not be immediately necessary, but the government should prepare for the worst-case scenario and consider imposing one ban if necessary.