A Vietjet plane is seen in this picture. Korea Times file

By Kang Seung-woo

The Korean Embassy in Vietnam has stepped up efforts to prevent a coronavirus testing-related scam, with such fraud cases on the rise targeting Korean tourists in the Southeast Asian country when they return to Korea.

According to the embassy and the Korean foreign ministry, Wednesday, two embassy staffers visited the office of Vietjet Air in Hanoi two days earlier and took issue with the budget airline's rejection of Korean travelers' negative COVID-19 test results, which left them exposed to rapid antigen test fraud. Vietjet Air is a Vietnamese low-cost carrier (LCC), based in the capital city of Hanoi.

They also urged the company to request the People's Public Security of Vietnam investigate the fraud complaints.

In response, the LCC said the state security agency was already aware of the issue, adding it will once again ask for its efforts, according to the embassy.

The embassy has also complained to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

The embassy's complaints came as more Korean travelers in Vietnam have fallen victim to the rapid testing scam, sparking an outcry among them and raising the need for the Korean government to step in.

Until Sept. 2, all inbound travelers to Korea had to hand in negative PCR test results conducted within 48 hours or from rapid antigen tests within 24 hours preceding their departure for the country, but this rule has been lifted amid the overall recent downward trend in the number of daily new cases. However, a mandate to take a PCR test within one day after arrival in Korea remains unchanged.

According to the embassy, Vietjet frequently rejected Korean passengers' negative test results, even if they were valid, and on-site brokers received a premium to give them an emergency last-minute test.

For example, three Korean travelers, supposed to board a Vietjet flight at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, submitted their negative rapid antigen test results to the counter on Aug. 23 (local time), but they were denied boarding.

Right after the rejection, they were approached by a local broker at the airport, who offered to help them receive rapid antigen tests and depart for Korea on time. In return, the broker received a total of 4 million Vietnamese dong (230,000 won) per person, including 1 million dong for testing costs, although the test usually costs 150,000 dong.

With similar cases occurring among Korean travelers, suspicions have been mounting over a possible connection between the broker and the budget airline.

According to media reports, the embassy asked about the possible involvement of airline officials, but the firm flatly rejected the speculation.

For the Vietnamese airline's part, it reportedly said it had made such decisions after consulting with the quarantine office of Incheon International Airport.

Vietjet was not immediately available for comment.

Korean travelers have been emerging as the greatest cash cow to Vietnam's tourism industry after the country lifted its anti-virus travel restrictions earlier this year.

According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, 173,000 Koreans traveled to the country in August, accounting for one third of the 486,000 total international visitors, followed by 139,000 Americans and 82,000 Cambodians.