"Better Than Leaving Rooms Empty"... Hotel Industry Volunteers as 'Private Quarantine Facilities'

Review of Accommodation Facilities for Self-Quarantined Individuals and Their Families
Utilizing Vacant Rooms, Transforming into Specialized Self-Quarantine Facilities
Increase in Overseas Arrivals... Over 100 Daily Inquiries
Hotels "Illegal Possession... Government Action Needed"

According to related industries on the 31st, about 3 to 4 business hotels in Seoul are considering operating self-quarantine facilities. The photo is unrelated to the article.

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] The hotel and lodging industry, hit hard by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), is choosing to provide rooms as dedicated facilities for self-quarantined individuals or their families rather than leaving them empty. Guesthouses and small lodging businesses in Seoul have made humanitarian decisions amid the national crisis.

According to the industry on the 31st, about three to four business hotels in Seoul are considering operating self-quarantine facilities. Hotel A in Jung-gu, Seoul, has decided to operate about 130 rooms separately for use exclusively by self-quarantined individuals in cooperation with the district office and health center. Hotel B near Namdaemun is also reviewing plans to professionally accommodate some family members of self-quarantined individuals. The startup lodging development company, Sookso Baljeonso, which operates guesthouses, has also joined. They will operate a guesthouse in the Mullae-dong area of Yeongdeungpo-gu, capable of accommodating up to 40 people, as single rooms to accommodate a total of 11 self-quarantined individuals. They will charge only 40,000 won per day, about half the usual lodging fee. Equipped with disinfectants and sterilization supplies, they will collectively receive residents starting from the 1st of next month.

Demand is also high among those seeking self-quarantine facilities ahead of entering the country. Since the announcement about operating self-quarantine facilities was posted by Sookso Baljeonso on the 25th, about 100 inquiries per day have poured in until now. Since it operates as single rooms with a maximum capacity of only 11 people, reservations were quickly filled. In particular, the government's mandatory self-quarantine policy for overseas residents has increased anxiety among overseas entrants and their families. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 29th, "From April 1, mandatory quarantine for two weeks will be expanded to all entrants regardless of region or nationality." Violations may result in imprisonment or fines.

Yoon Jeong-hee (pseudonym), who expressed a desire to move into a private self-quarantine facility, asked about availability, saying, "I am trying to enter on a charter flight from Milan, Italy, but I do not yet know the exact arrival date." Jo Myung-hyun (pseudonym), a student in his 20s, said, "I plan to arrive on the afternoon of the 4th and hope to be admitted." Yoon Hye-seon (pseudonym), who has a son scheduled to arrive, also asked about the exact location of the accommodation, saying, "My son is scheduled to arrive on the 3rd, and I heard that the government provides dedicated airport limousine buses for entrants who find it difficult to travel by private car."

Kim Eun-chong, CEO of Sookso Baljeonso, said, "Since this was not started to make money in the first place, the daily lodging fee was set at 40,000 won," adding, "Because it must be operated as single rooms, we cannot accommodate many people, so it was quickly booked." A hotel industry official said, "Currently, if hotels directly operate self-quarantine facilities, it is practically illegal as they are considered public health facilities," adding, "Proactive government measures on this matter are needed to help expand private self-quarantine facilities."

Meanwhile, 3- to 4-star hotels are choosing temporary closures. They have closed temporarily, judging that using their facilities as COVID-19 quarantine sites would negatively affect their future business. Hotels such as Myeongdong Centermark Hotel, Crown Park Hotel Seoul, and Tmark Hotel Myeongdong have suspended operations temporarily.