Unauthorized outings during self-quarantine surge... Untraceable if app not installed or phone left behind

As the government urged for strict social distancing measures to overcome COVID-19, Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul was crowded with visitors on the 29th of last month. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] In Busan, a person under self-quarantine was caught violating the rules by leaving their home. This individual had not installed the self-quarantine application (app), so their departure was not initially detected. In Gunsan, Jeonbuk Province, three Vietnamese international students under self-quarantine went out without their mobile phones and were caught during a landline phone check.

Busan City announced on the 4th that during a joint inspection with the police on self-quarantined individuals, a woman in her 50s was caught violating self-quarantine rules by taking a walk in a park. A (53-year-old female) residing in Buk-gu, Busan, had been ordered to self-quarantine from the 27th of last month until the 9th of this month after contact with a confirmed case in the Gyeongnam region.

However, on the afternoon of the 3rd, A went out. While walking in Samnak Ecological Park in Sasang-gu, A was caught by the joint inspection team. But A’s outing was not reported to the official in charge of self-quarantine before being caught. Unlike overseas entrants who are required to install the self-quarantine app, those quarantined due to domestic contact are not obligated to install the app, so A did not have the app installed on her phone.

The police plan to file charges against A for violating the 'Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.' The punishment clause for violating self-quarantine measures, which previously imposed a fine of up to 3 million won, will be strengthened from the 5th to 'imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won.'

In Gunsan, Jeollanam-do, three Vietnamese international students were caught after leaving their self-quarantine location. It is known that they left their mobile phones at their residence to avoid location tracking.

According to Jeonbuk Province on the 4th, it was confirmed that three international students?two women in their 20s and one man of Vietnamese nationality?left their self-quarantine location the day before, and the Ministry of Justice was notified of the violation on the same day. Their deportation status will be decided soon.

The three students, who are friends, had been quarantined in a one-room apartment after entering the country between the 28th of last month and the 1st of this month, testing negative upon inspection. However, on the 3rd, they left their self-quarantine location and stayed for about five hours at Eunpa Lake Park in Naun-dong, Gunsan City, according to police investigation. In particular, it was reported that they left their mobile phones at their residence to avoid location tracking.

However, during a check of the quarantine status via landline phone by a Gunsan City official, their departure was confirmed. The official visited their residence to verify the absence and requested the police to locate them.