24-Hour On-Site Sketch of Mr. K, an Eunpyeong Resident Returning from the USA

326 Overseas Arrivals in Eunpyeong District Since April 1... All Undergo Testing and One-on-One Monitoring... Managed via App by Eunpyeong-gu COVID-19 Task Force

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Eunpyeong-gu (Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) conducted COVID-19 specimen tests on 326 residents of Eunpyeong who arrived from overseas starting April 1st, with all testing negative.

We highlighted a day in the life of Mr. K, an Eunpyeong resident who arrived from the United States, underwent specimen testing upon arrival in Eunpyeong, and is being monitored via an app by district office staff.

On April 7th, the flight departing from New York, USA, arrived at Incheon Airport at 6:30 PM. Before arrival, Mr. K recorded Eunpyeong OO-dong on his entry declaration form. As he showed no symptoms, upon arrival at Incheon Airport, he followed guidance from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and installed the “Self-Quarantine Safety Protection” app developed by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on his smartphone, then took the limousine bus to Eunpyeong. If symptoms were present, specimen testing would be conducted immediately.

Mr. K boarded the limousine bus heading towards Mapo, Seodaemun, and Eunpyeong, which operates six times daily, and briefly rested. After some time, when he opened his eyes, the limousine bus had stopped at the barrier gate of the Eunpyeong District Office parking lot. Most people arrived by limousine bus, but some were seen arriving by private car.

The bus arrived at 11:35 PM. The district office staff who greeted Mr. K were screening clinic guides from the public health center. At the tent waiting area, Mr. K received a hygiene safety bag and listened to self-quarantine instructions. The bag contained hand sanitizer, 14 masks, disinfectant, waste disposal bags, four disposable thermometers, and a leaflet outlining self-quarantine rules.

After completing a basic epidemiological survey lasting about 10 minutes, it took a total of 20 minutes until specimen testing was completed. Seoul City has been conducting full testing of all overseas arrivals since April 1st. After testing, Mr. K took a district office bus arranged by Eunpyeong-gu to his home. No one came to pick him up. His elderly parents were already staying at a tourist hotel arranged by the district office. For those under self-quarantine, Eunpyeong-gu provides temporary accommodations such as local tourist hotels where family members can stay separately, offering discounted rates. His wife and daughter were sent to her parental home. After speaking with his family, Mr. K entered his home and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, while eating and resting, a push notification sounded. Mr. K self-diagnosed and submitted whether he had any special COVID-19 related symptoms such as fever, cough, or sore throat. In the afternoon, Mr. K received a phone call on his smartphone. It was from the dedicated self-quarantine team of Eunpyeong-gu assigned to him. Eunpyeong-gu offered Mr. K either daily necessities worth 100,000 KRW or cash support of the same amount. After some consideration, he chose to receive daily necessities. Eunpyeong-gu monitors all 326 arrivals in the area with a one-on-one monitoring officer. Among them, 28 are foreigners, and English-proficient volunteers have been assigned to assist them.

At 6:30 PM, the exact time Mr. K arrived at Incheon Airport the previous day, he wanted to have dinner with Eunpyeong’s famous Gamjatguk (potato soup) after returning to Korea for the first time in a month, but he had to resist. If he left his home, his location would be exposed via the app, and violating quarantine measures could result in imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million KRW under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. Mr. K’s day was anxious and long, but he felt reassured by the meticulousness of the district administration.