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 A government charter flight departing from Incheon International Airport to the Chinese city of Wuhan is labeled "canceled" on Jan. 30. (Baek So-ah, staff photographer)

Chartered flights that were supposed to evacuate South Korean citizens from the Chinese city of Wuhan, in Hubei Province, on the morning of Jan. 30 were abruptly postponed. Wuhan, as the center of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, is basically on lockdown, trapping South Korean expatriates inside. While the South Korean government had been planning to send two charter planes to the beleaguered city, sources say that only one plane may end up going.

The South Korean consulate general in Wuhan sent out an emergency message at 1 am on Thursday, informing prospective passengers that, because the Chinese authorities had delayed permission for the chartered flights, their meeting time — at the toll gate at 10:45 am on Thursday — would have to be rescheduled. The consulate added that passengers should remain where they are and wait for the next notification, suggesting that their return schedule hasn’t been decided yet. The South Korean government had been planning to repatriate some 700 citizens on two chartered planes at 3pm and 5 pm on Thursday, following deliberations with the Chinese government, but that plan is in flux.

“We’re in consultation with the Chinese government to help our citizens return home as soon as possible. It might be a little later than originally planned, but we’re certain the chartered planes will depart today,” said an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

But there are indications that there may just one flight instead of two. Given that possibility, the government is reportedly drawing up plans to seat the passengers on a single plane, rather than two. Originally, empty seats were going to be left on either side of passengers, but if they are seated next to each other, fitting them all in a single plane shouldn’t be a problem.

By Kim So-youn, staff reporter

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]