Press Briefing

Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations Kim In-chul

March 3, 2020  14:30  KST

Good afternoon. Let me start today’s briefing.

Following her telephone conversation with El Salvador’s Minister of Foreign Affairs today regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha is planning on holding telephone conversations with her Indonesian and Indian counterparts.

Minister Kang has so far had telephone conversations with her counterparts of eight countries, including China, Vietnam, the UAE, Canada, and the Maldives, and will continue close communication at the ministerial level with major countries on responses to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its overseas diplomatic missions are exerting its best efforts to respond to excessive entry restrictions or bans, including meetings between the Ministry’s deputy ministers or directors-general and ambassadors to the Republic of Korea.

In addition, in order to minimize inconvenience experienced by Korean nationals due to entry restrictions, the Foreign Ministry is providing direct support on the ground, including airports, and continuing its utmost efforts to provide consular assistance.

(A question-and-answer session followed.)