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today (4th), Korean Air routes to and from Incheon Airport and Tianjin, China will be completely suspended. This is a measure by the Chinese authorities, and the reason is that a corona patient occurred among passengers who went to China from Korea.



Correspondent Kim Ji-sung from Beijing.



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Eight Chinese passengers who arrived in Shenyang, China from Incheon on a Korean Air flight on December 17 last year were confirmed with COVID-19.



The pre-boarding test was negative, but it came back positive after arrival.



China's aviation authorities took responsibility and canceled the Korean Air route between Incheon and Tianjin.



The Incheon-Tianjin route is a so-called 'incentive route' that was additionally approved because there were no confirmed cases on the Incheon-Shenyang route, and the incentive route was canceled when a confirmed person appeared on the Incheon-Shenyang route.



Chinese authorities impose sanctions when there are more than 5 confirmed cases on a single airliner, but this is the first time sanctions have been imposed on our airline.



The problem is the Koreans who are trying to return home from Tianjin right now.



[Lee Seon-mi/Tianjin Korean: Due to the sudden flight suspension notice, it was really difficult for us to get (replacement) plane tickets, and (in China) we have to wait at least 4 to 17 hours for (boarding) in other areas?]



[Ahn Chang-seok / Secretary General of Tianjin Korean Association: (according to the academic schedule) 3rd graders of high school, and their guardians, have to go to Korea now, but I think the biggest part is that they cannot go. ]



Chinese authorities also allow flights from Shenyang to Incheon, but flights from Incheon to Shenyang are suspended for two weeks, and during this period, empty planes are required to arrive in Shenyang, pick up passengers, and return to Incheon.



In the airline industry, it is virtually impossible to screen out even asymptomatic potential infected people who tested negative before departure, and there are voices that the Chinese authorities' sanctions are excessive.