About 2000 Koreans leave for their country amid lockdown
The majority of the 15,000 Korean expats continue to stay in India to ensure that the businesses and factories resume operations as and when the lockdown is lifted in India. There will be no effect on the Korean business operations in India.
NEW DELHI: About 2000 Korean nationals have flown out of India for their country of origin using specially arranged chartered flights amid COVID-19-induced lockdown here.
Nine chartered Korean Air flights flew from airports in New Delhi (4), Mumbai (2), Chennai (2), and Bengaluru (1) between April 5 and 27. India has imposed a ban on the operations of scheduled passenger flights domestic or international till May 31. Only the cargo and evacuation flights are in operation at present.
India has a total strength of about 15,000 Korean nationals staying in various cities across India – New Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and others. Delhi and NCR towns host about 4,000 Koreans while the rest of them are scattered across other cities in India.
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in New Delhi and Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chennai helped their citizens in hindrance-free movement from their homes to destined airports amidst travel restrictions in India during the lockdown period that now stands extended till May 17 during increasing Coronavirus positive cases in India.
According to Euy Don Park, Chairman, Presidential Korean Association in India – the apex body of Korean nationals in India those who left for South Korea included elderlies, women, children, and those who had some difficulties back home or required medical attention.
“The majority of the 15,0000 Korean expats continue to stay in India to ensure that the businesses and factories resume operations as and when the lockdown is lifted in India. There will be no effect on the Korean business operations in India,” said Park.
It was on April 5 when the first Korean Air flight carrying 221 Korean nationals from Delhi and NCR towns had taken off from Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Korean embassy had issued a special authority letter to these Korean nationals for trouble-free travel from their homes to the airport amid travel restrictions during the lockdown.
The ninth flight too took off from IGI Airport on April 27, ferrying about 220 Korean nationals to Seoul.
Also read: The first batch of South Koreans flew out of India on Sunday.
