Government Allocates 5 Billion Won in Reserve Funds for Managing Chinese Students and Disinfecting Civil Service Exam Venues

On the 24th, as the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) rapidly increases, a Chinese traveler wearing protective clothing is leaving the arrival hall at Incheon International Airport. / Yeongjongdo - Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] The government announced that it approved the expenditure plan of 5 billion KRW from the general account contingency fund for two purposes?managing Chinese international students entering the country in preparation for the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and disinfecting national civil service exam sites?at the Cabinet meeting on the 25th.

This is an additional response measure following the 104.1 billion KRW contingency fund approved on the 18th for emergency quarantine measures and support for the operation of temporary facilities for evacuees from Wuhan.

First, 4.2 billion KRW will be invested to manage Chinese international students arriving intensively starting this week through organic cooperation among universities, the central government, and local governments.

The government plans to quarantine international students for 14 days in dormitories or at home upon their arrival. A total of 2.5 billion KRW will be provided to cover labor costs for 2,376 on-site personnel involved in this process.

Additionally, 1.5 billion KRW will be used for quarantine supplies such as masks, hand sanitizers, and thermometers (300 million KRW) provided to personnel managing the students, as well as dormitory disinfection costs (1.2 billion KRW).

Two hundred million KRW has also been allocated for booth operation costs to establish a thorough management network, including guidance on behavior immediately after students’ arrival and distribution of disposable masks.

The government will also invest 900 million KRW for disinfecting exam sites to ensure the stable operation of the 2020 national civil service examination scheduled for this month and next. This will cover disinfection of exam and question preparation sites (500 million KRW) and separate operation of exam rooms (400 million KRW).

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Hong Nam-ki stated, "Managing Chinese international students arriving intensively from late February to early March and disinfecting the civil service exam, which is expected to have a large number of examinees, are urgent measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19." He urged related ministries to "strengthen an organic and robust cooperative system with local governments and universities so that the contingency fund can be executed swiftly and effectively on site."