▶ http://ncov.mohw.go.kr/en/

Since raising the country’s infectious disease alert level to “highest” (February 23, 2020), the Korean government has assembled the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCHQ), headed by the Prime Minister to bolster government-wide responses to COVID-19.

Given the distinct nature and expertise involved in responding to an infectious disease, the Central Disease Control Headquarters (KCDC, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) serves as the command center to prevent and control infection, while the Vice Head 1 of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, who also serves as the Head of the Central Disaster Management Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), assists infection prevention and control efforts of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Head: Director Jeong Eunkyeong of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

The Minister of the Interior and Safety, head of the Pan-government Countermeasures Support Headquarters, assumes the Vice Head 2 to provide necessary assistance such as coordination between the central and local governments.

Each local government can establish local countermeasure headquarters directed by the heads of the local governments to secure specialized infectious disease hospitals and beds. If the countermeasure required is beyond the capacity of local governments, the central government can provide assistance by mobilizing resources including beds, human resources, and supplies. 

Preventing the Inflow and Spread of the Infectious Disease

Preventing inflow by managing entrants

Special Entry Procedure (as of March 19, 2020)

The Korean government has enforced an entry ban on foreigners arriving from Hubei Province, strengthened visa screening of entrants from China and Japan, and designated China (including Hong Kong, Macau), Italy, and Iran as countries subject to quarantine control to tighten quarantine inspections of entrants from these countries.

In particular, the Korean government began applying the Special Entry Procedure to all passengers entering Korea from China from February 4, 2020, and expanded the procedure to entrants from Hong Kong and Macau (February 12), Japan (March 9), Italy/Iran (March 12), five major European countries (France, Germany, Spain, U.K., Netherlands, March 15), the entire European continent (March 16), and all parts of the world (March 19).

Furthermore, all Koreans and foreign nationals entering Korea should receive temperature screening and fill out the Health Questionnaire and Special Quarantine Declaration in accordance with the Special Entry Procedure from March 19. All entrants subject to the special procedure are allowed to enter the nation after contact information and domestic address of residence are checked to be reached in Korea. They are also required to install either the “Self-Quarantine Safety Protection App” or a self health check Mobile App, the “Self-Diagnosis App” on their phones to monitor if they have fever or could be infected with COVID-19 during their stay in Korea. All inbound travelers must install either of the two applications depending on their classification, and check their symptoms and submit if they have any symptom on the application on a daily basis for 14 days upon entry. In addition, a list of incoming passengers is provided to each local government (city or province) in an effort to strengthen its inspection network.
※ Self health check symptoms: fever (37.5 or higher) or feverish feeling, cough, sore throat, respiratory difficulties or breathlessness

Stronger measures for infection prevention and control of overseas entrants

In light of the increasing number of COVID-19 patients and confirmed cases among incoming arrivals, the Korean government imposed a mandatory 14 day quarantine on all passengers arriving from all parts of the world from 00:00, April 1.

In addition, beginning at 12am on April 13, all inbound passengers arriving from the U.S. (Korean nationals and long-term foreigners) are placed under self-quarantine and must get diagnostic tests within three days of their quarantine period.

Symptomatic Passengers

All entrants from abroad – both Korean nationals and foreigners – will go through diagnostic tests if they have fever or respiratory symptom identified during the quarantine stage.
Passengers who test positive for COVID-19 will be transferred to a hospital or Living and Treatment Center (Community Treatment Center). Korean nationals or long-term foreign nationals who test negative will be placed under self-quarantine (14 days, Self-Quarantine Safety Protection App to be installed) and foreign nationals who are short-term will be placed under quarantine at facilities (14 days, a self health check Mobile App, the “Self-Diagnosis App” to be installed).

Asymptomatic Passengers

Asymptomatic Korean nationals arriving from Europe and the U.S. will go into self-quarantine (14 days, Self-Quarantine Safety Protection App to be installed) and get diagnostic test at a health center within three days of arrival. Asymptomatic Korean nationals arriving from countries outside the European countries and the U.S. will go into self-quarantine (14 days, Self-Quarantine Safety Protection App to be installed) and get diagnostic test if they display any symptom.

Asymptomatic foreign nationals for long-term and short-term stay arriving from Europe will get diagnostic tests at the airport. Then, long-term foreigners will go into self-quarantine (14 days, Self-Quarantine Safety Protection App to be installed) while short-term foreigners will be quarantined at facilities (14 days, a self health check Mobile App, the “Self-Diagnosis App” to be installed).

Asymptomatic long-term foreigners arriving from the U.S. will be placed under self-quarantine (14 days, Self-Quarantine Safety Protection App to be installed) and must get diagnostic tests within three days at a public health clinic.

Asymptomatic long-term stay foreigners arriving from countries other than European countries and the U.S. will go into self-quarantine (14 days, Self-Quarantine Safety Protection App to be installed) and get diagnostic tests if they display any symptom. Asymptomatic short-term foreigners arriving from countries outside the European continent (including short-term foreigners arriving from the U.S.) will be placed under quarantine at facilities facilities (14 days, a self health check Mobile App, the “Self-Diagnosis App” to be installed) and get diagnostic tests if they display any symptom.

However, entrants exempted from Quarantine (those holding such type of visa as A1 (Diplomat), A2 (Government official), or A3 (Agreement), or a self-quarantine exemption document issued by the Korean Embassy prior to the entry) will get diagnostic tests and wait for their test results at a temporary screening facility. If they test negative, they will be under active surveillance for 14 days by installing a self health check Mobile App, the “Self-Diagnosis App” provided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Testing and treatment expenses for overseas entrants are covered by the Korean government but living expenses are not provided by the Korean government.

If overseas entrants do not fully comply with the quarantine regulations, they will face up to 1 year in prison or a 10-million won fine in violation of the Quarantine Act and Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. In accordance with the Immigration Act, foreign nationals violating the regulations may face deportation or ban on entry into Korea, etc.
※ Assistance will be provided before departure or while waiting in line during Special Entry Procedures to help entrants to install either the Self-Quarantine Safety Protection App or a self health check Mobile App, the “Self-Diagnosis App”.

 For the further and lates informaion, please visit the below sites.

  (Central Disaster Management Headquarters)

* http://ncov.mohw.go.kr/  

    (Korean)

  http://ncov.mohw.go.kr/en/  

    (English)

  http://ncov.mohw.go.kr/cn/  

    (Chinese)