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| Incheon International Airport's departure lounge is empty after new regulations to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic reduced international travel. The government will suspend a visa-waiver program from April 13 to further limit the number of arrivals./ Yonhap |
By Kim Se-jeong
The Ministry of Justice said Thursday that three Vietnamese nationals will be deported for violating self-quarantine rules, the second deportation in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic.
More cases could follow after the government pledged to take stern measures against foreigners who violate the restrictions. "No exceptions will be made," the ministry said.
On Wednesday, an Indonesian national was deported for the same reason.
According to the North Jeolla Province Government, three students from Vietnam left their home in Gunsan last Friday and spent five hours at a nearby park. All left their cellphones behind in their rooms. Their action was discovered during a phone conversation with the quarantine authorities.
The government's deportation warning comes as the number of new coronavirus cases involving people infected overseas has increased rapidly. From April 1, the government implemented a two-week self-quarantine requirement for all new arrivals at airports and ports.
To further limit the number of new arrivals, the government suspended a visa waiver program Wednesday.
From April 13, People from 90 countries will be required to apply for a visa if they plan to visit Korea, even for tourism. They will be required to submit their health record to Korean embassies when they apply for the visa.
The justice ministry said the measure is expected to reduce the workload for officials and to redirect human resources to strengthen quarantine efforts at the airport.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) reported 39 additional COVID-19 cases here Wednesday, pushing the country's total to 10,423, with 204 fatalities.
Among the total, 861 involve people who were believed to have contracted the virus overseas. Among the 39 new cases, 23 patients contracted the virus abroad, according to the KCDC.
On Thursday, Korea's Human Rights Commission chief voiced her opposition to putting electronic tagging devices on all people under self-quarantine.
"This can infringe on the basic rights of each individual, along with other downsides, and the government needs to take this into consideration before making any decision," Choi Young-ae said.
"It took a long time for us to achieve what we have now in terms of human rights. If we let things go back to where they were before just because it's a time of crisis, it will be much harder and take much longer to get our achievements back."
The government is considered forcing people under self-quarantine to wear electronic bracelets on their wrists; but is wary of being accused of violating their human rights.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will send a charter plane to Vladivostok, Russia, next Tuesday to bring back Korean evacuees ― the number of whom is currently unknown.
On Tuesday, another flight brought back 261 Koreans from Moscow.
The ministry also said four travelers that were stranded in South Africa are now on their way back to Korea. They are expected to arrive in Incheon, Friday afternoon.
