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| Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte / AP |
By Jung Min-ho
The Philippine government has temporarily banned Filipino tourists from going to Korea due to coronavirus concerns.
But permanent residents, overseas workers and students in Korea will be exempted.
"Any travel to South Korea will be temporarily suspended," Health Secretary Francisco Duque said Wednesday.
"Only permanent residents of South Korea, Filipinos leaving for study and OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) returning for work will be allowed, provided they sign a written declaration acknowledging the risks involved, which will be complemented with health advisory pamphlets."
Earlier, the government approved a move to impose an entry ban on all travelers coming from North Gyeongsang Province, including Daegu, which recently emerged as a hotbed of the virus.
However, Filipinos and their foreign spouses or children, and holders of permanent resident and diplomatic visas will still be allowed entry, subject to screening and quarantine protocols.
The government's inter-agency task force said it will decide whether to expand the entry ban to other parts of Korea if the situation worsens.
The health ministry said there have been no confirmed COVID-19 infections in Filipinos in Korea.
According to the Philippines' Department of Tourism, Korea is its No. 1 tourist market, with 1.98 million arrivals last year.
As of Thursday morning, the virus had killed 13 people and infected nearly 1,600 in Korea.
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