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South Koreans placed in isolation after arriving at the international airport of the African island nation Mauritius. (Yonhap News)

Amid a sharp rise in the number of countries restricting entry to foreign nationals who have been in South Korea recently, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) website for “safe overseas travel” (www.0404.go.kr), which provides information of entry bans and other travel conditions, is being accused of causing confusion with its belated reflection of conditions and abrupt changes in its content.

On the safe overseas travel site, MOFA provides updated names and details once or twice daily for countries barring entry or tightening immigration procedures. Travelers can view the information before deciding whether to cancel their trips. In addition to complaints about the information being presented belatedly rather than in real time, foreign news outlets have repeatedly reported updates before the website, and real-life difficulties experienced by travelers have not been reflected.

On Feb. 23, the African island nation Mauritius isolated 34 South Korean honeymooners on their arrival at the airport, but Mauritius was only added to the MOFA website on Feb. 25 at 2 pm. In China, South Koreans were placed in isolation on Feb. 25 at airports in Weihai, Shandong Province; Shenyang, Liaoning Province; and Nanjing, Jiangsu province -- yet China is not currently listed as one of the countries restricting entry.

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website for “safe overseas travel”: http://0404.go.kr

“When prior notification of entry bans comes or incidents occur, it takes time to confirm them, and efforts to persuade [the countries] to overturn their measures sometimes result in delays,” a MOFA official explained.

In other cases, information has been abruptly changed due to simple errors. Samoa and American Samoa had both been on the entry ban list before suddenly being switched on Feb. 25 to the category of countries/territories with intensified entry procedures; ultimately, they were restored to the entry ban list. By Feb. 26, the number of countries restricting entry to foreign nationals who have been in South Korea was up to 30 (17 with entry bans, 13 with intensified entry procedures).

On Feb. 26, MOFA reportedly summoned Chinese Ambassador Xing Haiming and Japanese Ambassador Koji Tomita to request that their countries refrain from “excessive” responses. That same day, Japan made the decision to prohibit entry to foreign nationals who have been in either Daegu or Cheongdo County, North Gyeongsang Province.

Xing explained that the “measures taken by certain local governments are not intended to target South Koreans alone.”

“Many Chinese nationals are also among those who are being isolated,” he added, requesting “consideration and understanding” from the Korean public.

By Kim So-youn, staff reporter

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