China suspends visas for SKoreans over curbs

SEOUL: China has suspended issuing short-term visas to South Koreans in response to Seoul’s imposition of travel restrictions on Chinese travelers over coronavirus concerns, Beijing’s embassy said on Tuesday.

“Chinese embassies and consulates in Korea will suspend the issuance of short-term visas for Korean citizens,” the embassy in the capital Seoul said, adding the measures would be “adjusted again in line with South Korea’s removal of the discriminatory entry restrictions on China.”

Last month, Seoul imposed a wave of restrictions on travelers from China, including visa restrictions, testing requirements and some flight limits, citing a surge in Covid-19 infections.

Seoul is capping flights from China, and travelers from the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao wi