An interpreter from Goryeoin Village in Gwangju on March 30 guides a group of Goryeoin (ethnic Koreans from Central Asia and Russia) from Ukraine at Incheon International Airport's Terminal 1. (Yonhap News)

By Xu Aiying and Yoon Hee Young

Ukrainians who have lived in Korea for a long time and ethnic Koreans from that country will receive travel documents from the Korean government to enter Korea, even if they have no passports.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul said its decision was made in consideration of the situation in Ukraine, where passport issuance has been temporarily suspended due to those fleeing Ukraine not having passports in the process of urgent evacuation or wartime circumstances.

Also eligible for the no-passport benefit are the relatives of long-term Ukrainian expats in Korea or ethnic Koreans from that country.

Ethnic Koreans or regular citizens from Ukraine who have visited Korea before will receive the same types of visa as those from their previous trips. First-time applicants to enter Korea will get the short-term general visa good for stays of up to 90 days.

The ministry said, "Ukrainians who have entered Korea can safely stay in the country via humanitarian measures like extensions of stay and change in sojourn eligibility until the situation in Ukraine is resolved," adding, "Korea will monitor refugee outbreaks in Ukraine to plan to provide necessary support measures."

As of April 3, 370 Ukrainians had entered Korea through humanitarian support measures.

xuaiy@korea.kr