1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha had a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of El Salvador Juana Alexandra Hill Tinoco on the morning of March 3, and asked for a prompt withdrawal of the Salvadoran government’s entry ban on Korean nationals regarding the COVID-19 outbreak.

o Minister Kang explained in detail that the government of the Republic of Korea is making government-wide, all-out efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 based on its world-class capabilities for diagnosis and epidemiological investigation.

o In particular, Minister Kang asked the Salvadoran government to reconsider the measure in ways to minimize inconvenience faced by Korean nationals and companies during the immigration process, and to ensure that Korean nationals do not receive unjust treatment due to the entry ban.

2. Minister Hill, while saying that El Salvador fully understands the ROK government’s position, explained that El Salvador with a dense population and a vulnerable quarantine system had to take all possible preventive measures.

o Minister Hill added that she will deliver the ROK government’s position to relevant government agencies and hold internal consultations on ways to ensure the safety of Korean nationals and the convenience of Korean businesses.

3. El Salvador is the first Latin American country to implement an entry ban in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue active efforts to prevent the expansion of entry bans and restrictions in Latin America.