Korean Air Force 3, carrying six Korean nationals and a Japanese spouse of a Korean who were on the Japanese cruise ship Diamond Princess, on Feb. 19 arrived at Gimpo International Airport at 6:27 a.m. (Yonhap News)

By Kang Gahui and Kim Hwaya

The presidential plane Korean Air Force 3, carrying six Koreans and the Japanese spouse of a Korean national who were on the Japanese cruise ship Diamond Princess docked at Japan's Yokohama Port, on Feb. 19 arrived at 6:27 a.m. at Gimpo International Airport.

The seven, including two crew members not initially slated to join this flight, were admitted to the country completely isolated from regular passengers, undergoing entry procedures and medical inspections at Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center. They were later transferred to the quarantine station near Incheon International Airport's Terminal 1.

The passengers will stay for 14 days at negative pressure isolation rooms in the quarantine station, and medical staff will check for any suspected symptoms of COVID-19.

The eight other Koreans who remain on the cruise ship are expected to disembark from Feb. 19-21 if they test negative for COVID-19.

The Central Epidemic Control Countermeasure Headquarters under the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Feb. 19 told a daily briefing at Government Complex-Sejong, "Upon their arrival home, the Korean nationals (from the cruise ship) will be subject to self-quarantine after undergoing medical checks."

kgh89@korea.kr