Seoul City-Education Ministry Strategy Meeting... Securing Temporary Housing Spaces in 25 Districts
Chung-Ang University President Park Sang-gyu Attends "COVID-19 Spread Similar to University Concerns"
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye is wearing a mask after finishing her speech at the Ministry of Education-Seoul Metropolitan Government countermeasure meeting to protect and support Chinese international students entering Korea, held on the 21st at the Planning Situation Room of Seoul City Hall. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] "The spread of COVID-19 in Daegu and Gyeongbuk is similar to the situation universities are concerned about. Honestly, it is difficult to guarantee the effectiveness of the measures taken so far once the return of Chinese international students begins in earnest next week."
Park Sang-gyu, president of Chung-Ang University, predicted that quarantine management will face a critical moment as the arrival of Chinese international students intensifies starting from the 24th of next week. On the morning of the 21st, Park, who attended the 'Measures Meeting for the Protection and Support of Chinese International Students Related to COVID-19' held at the Seoul City Hall Emergency Situation Room, expressed these concerns in an interview with reporters.
President Park said, "For the past two weeks, one or two suspected student cases have been emerging almost daily," adding, "About 40 faculty and staff members are contacting students who have not yet arrived and are involved in managing the school and dormitories, but we are already feeling the limits of our own response." He also pointed out, "It is most urgent for the government to disperse the arrival of international students as much as possible through policy."
Currently, there are 38,330 Chinese international students enrolled in 68 universities located in Seoul, and excluding cyber universities, there are 34,267 students in 49 universities. The number of Chinese international students expected to arrive in the future is estimated to be around 17,000.
The Ministry of Education, universities, Seoul City, and 25 autonomous districts proposed at the meeting measures to allow international students who have nowhere suitable to stay to reside in temporary accommodations provided by Seoul City and local governments. Seoul City has agreed to provide the Seoul Talent Development Institute in Seocho-gu for this purpose and plans to secure additional temporary housing spaces.
In preparation for cases where international students face difficulties securing housing due to unavoidable reasons such as refusal of new real estate contracts or termination of existing contracts, or when dormitory space is insufficient due to the one-person-one-room policy, reserve spaces will also be secured.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye emphasized, "Currently, international students coming from China must undergo special entry screening and are prohibited from attending classes for two weeks. After confirming their health status, they can attend classes. For the measures to be effective, it is essential to protect and manage not only dormitory residents but also students living in one-room apartments and other local accommodations, so the help of city and district offices is absolutely necessary."
Meanwhile, since the 19th, the Ministry of Education has dispatched on-site inspection teams to 17 universities with more than 1,000 Chinese international students to check the status of protection and management of international students at each stage of their arrival.
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