Incheon, Gimpo airports hit hard by entry restrictions

South Korea's two largest airports ― Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport ― were left virtually empty, Monday, as Korea and Japan began enforcing tightened entry restrictions against each other's citizens, according to officials from airports and airlines. The two countries enforced mutual entry restrictions ostensibly over the concerns about the fast spread of COVID-19 amid already strained relations between the two due to disputes over trade and history. In the morning, only eight passengers boarded the 121-seat Korean Air flight at Incheon Airport to Kansai International Airport in Osaka. There were no Korean passengers ― the eight passengers were all foreigners, including a Chinese passenger who had to go to Japan to renew his visa. According to the Incheon International Airport Corp., 116 passengers were expected to depart for Japan from the airport, while 202 were expected to arrive from the neighboring country the same day. The number of outbound and inbound passengers decreased by 96% and 93%, respectively, compared to figures tallied on March 2.<br/>