1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha had a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives Abdulla Shahid on the afternoon of March 2, and conveyed the government of the Republic of Korea’s position on the Maldives’ entry ban on Korean nationals from certain regions of the ROK.

o First of all, Minister Kang noted that in consideration of the ROK government’s position and the convenience of Korean nationals, the Maldivian government delayed the implementation of the measure from February 28, the original date, to March 3 and decided to remove Seoul and Gyeonggi from the list of areas subject to its entry ban.

o Minister Kang explained that the ROK government is making government-wide, all-out efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 by taking transparent and preemptive measures, and asked the Maldivian government to refrain from taking additional measure and reconsider its entry ban on other regions than areas where infections are concentrated.

o In addition, Minister Kang asked for the Maldives’ special efforts to ensure that Korean nationals do not experience an unjust infringement of rights and interests or inconvenience under any circumstances.

2. Minister Shahid said that his country is aware of the ROK’s all-out response to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and explained that it was inevitable for the Maldives, an island nation with a vulnerable quarantine system, to take the measure to prepare for a possible crisis.

o Minister Shahid went on to say that the Maldivian government’s decision to remove Seoul and Gyeonggi from the list of areas subject to the measure was made in consideration of the friendly relations between the two countries.

o Minister Shahid said that the Maldives will continue reviewing the measure to ensure that the entry ban on Korean nationals is not implemented excessively. He offered to continue close consultation between the two countries in the process.
 

3. The two Ministers shared the view that the ROK and the Maldives will be able to overcome the current situation together based on the friendship and trust between the two countries, and agreed to continue close communication between the governments of the two countries.