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.

Jacques: Before boarding the plane, you must receive guidelines on the quarantine measures you have to follow in Korea. You must also submit a form agreeing to quarantine in an isolation center.

Jessie: I know the next steps. You get your temperature checked and fill out a questionnaire, and if you're suspected of having COVID-19 symptoms, you undergo testing at the airport.

Jacques: That's right, but there's one more. You must download the app Self-quarantine Safety Protection on Google Play Store or the iOS App Store.

Su-hyeon: Is the app available in other languages?

Jacques: Yes, English and Chinese.

Jessie: You've piqued my curiosity. What do you do with that app?

Jacques: The quarantined person updates his or her health status on the app twice a day, and the government checks this. The app enables the government to ensure that you're following quarantine rules.

Su-hyeon: Checking body temperature, filling out a questionnaire and installing the app. So what's next?

Jacques: After completing the special entry process at the airport, those without a fixed residence in Korea and with a short-term visa of under 90 days must be quarantined at a government facility for 14 days. Those with a fixed residence in Korea and a long-term visa must self-quarantine at home for 14 days.



Su-hyeon: So where do those in Korea for a short-term stay go for quarantine?

Jacques: They are assigned to one of 12 lodging facilities near Incheon International Airport, depending on the facilities' status. The COVID-19 tests are free, but staying at a facility costs KRW 100,000 per day.

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.



Huong: Your way of getting to your dorm must have changed, too.

Jacques: Yes. Both domestic and foreign arrivals to Korea are advised to use their own cars for transportation. If that's difficult, they can use an Airport Limousine Bus exclusively for arrivals from abroad. You also cannot use the airport railroad.

Huong: How do you get to the provinces if an Airport Limousine Bus doesn't go there?

Jacques: Take the train at KTX Gwangmyeong Station and use the train car exclusively for arrivals in Korea. And once you arrive at your province, taking a taxi or a call van instead of public transportation is recommended, since many people use the latter.



Jessie: Korea is thoroughly managing the inflow of people into the country. I should tell my friends who are coming to Korea later.

Su-hyeon: It's very important that everyone coming to Korea from abroad follow this procedure. And we all must wear masks and wash our hands often.

Jacques: Yeah, I hope all of these efforts lead to the eventual end of this coronavirus.