Quarantine process when entering Korea
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Su-hyeon's friend and exchange student Jacques flew to Korea from France. He explains the quarantine procedure he went through after arriving in Korea. |
Su-hyeon: Guys, I'd like you to meet my new friend, Jacques from France. He came to Korea this year as an exchange student.
Huong: Nice to meet you, Jacques. I heard you were quarantined for 14 days upon entry to Korea due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Jacques: Hello and yes. I went through many procedures after arriving in Korea from France (laughs). Experiencing the process firsthand made me realize how thoroughly Korea manages foreign arrivals.
Huong: Right. I heard the process these days is vastly different from what it was when I arrived in Korea. So what's the procedure like now?
Jessie: I want to know, too. I get asked this question a lot from friends who'll come to Korea soon.
Su-hyeon: So where do those in Korea for a short-term stay go for quarantine?
Jacques: As of November 2020, nine regions of the country have quarantine facilities including Seoul, Incheon, and the cities of Gimpo and Yongin in Gyeonggi-do Province. Short-term travelers are randomly assigned to lodgings depending on availability. Tests for COVID-19 are free, but accommodation at a facility costs from KRW 120,000 to KRW 150,000 per night.
Jessie: So were you also quarantined at a facility?
Jacques: No, I have a long-term visa, and my registered residence is my college dorm, so I was categorized as self-quarantine at one's residence. And within three days after arriving in Korea, I went to a nearby public health center and tested negative for COVID-19. Even so, I had to self-quarantine in the dorm for 14 days.
Su-hyeon: I'm so glad you tested negative (smiles).
Jessie: But what happens if you test positive?
Jacques: It depends on the severity of the symptoms. Light symptoms mean you go to a treatment center in Anseong, Gyeonggi-do Province, and severe symptoms mean going to a hospital exclusively for COVID-19 patients.
Written by Kim Young Deok
Translated by Lee Jihae
Illustrated by Yuhaill
kyd1991@korea.kr