China suspends short-term visas for South Koreans over COVID-19 travel curbs - CNA

"Our government's enhanced quarantine measures on travellers from China are based on scientific and objective evidence," Lim Soo-suk, a spokesperson for Seoul's foreign ministry, told a regular briefing following the announcement.

"We have been transparently exchanging related information with the international community, and have also been communicating with the Chinese side."

South Korea began requiring travellers from China to undergo a PCR test upon arrival from last week, joining a growing list of countries imposing border restrictions amid concern over infections following China's decision to end its zero-COVID policies.

Effective Thursday, arrivals are also required to provide a negative PCR result, taken within 48 hours of the beginning of the journey to South Korea, or a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours, while short-term visa issuance has been suspended for Chinese nationals until the end of the month.

On Thursday, South Korean police tracked down a Chinese man who went missing while awaiting quarantine after having tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival.

South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Monday the country's border measures should focus strictly on the safety of its citizens.The

latest tension dampened share prices of South Korean companies with heavy exposure to business with China, sending cosmetics makers LG Household & Health Care and Amorepacific down by more than 2 per cent each in late afternoon trade after early gains.

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