1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha spoke over the phone with Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan on the morning of September 2, and agreed on the simplification of entry procedures (“fast track”) for essential personnel, including business people and government officials of the two countries. The two Ministers also shared the COVID-19 situations of the two countries and discussed ways to cooperate in responding to COVID-19.

2. The two Ministers agreed on simplifying entry procedures for essential personnel, including business people, based on the Joint Statement of the Special ASEAN Plus Three Summit (April 14), aimed at maintaining necessary interconnectedness in the region while ensuring the safeguarding of public health. The two sides also agreed to put the arrangement into force starting from September 4.

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3. Under the arrangement, essential personnel from the Republic of Korea, including business people, can leave the country with a medical certificate which includes a negative COVID-19 test result, and a SafeTravel Pass issued by the Singaporean government. Upon arrival in Singapore, they should get another test for COVID-19, and if they get tested negative, they are able to carry out business activities without quarantine.

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4. As both the ROK and Singapore are countries with open economies highly dependent on trade, the arrangement with Singapore, a logistics and financial hub, is expected to contribute to not only reviving the two countries’ economies but also ensuring stability in global supply chains amid the COVID-19 situation.

5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in close consultation with relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, is exerting efforts to establish the fast track procedure. Singapore is the fourth country with which the ROK has established the fast track, following the People’s Republic of China, the United Arab Emirates, and the Republic of Indonesia.

o Among countries in ASEAN, the ROK’s second-largest trading partner, Singapore is the second country that the ROK has agreed to launch the fast track with, following Indonesia.

6. The two Ministers shared the view that global solidarity and cooperation for universal and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines are essential, and agreed to step up bilateral cooperation to that end.