Self-quarantined Voters Allowed to Go Out from 5:20 PM on the 15th

Strict Measures for Route Deviations and Time Overruns via Self-Quarantine App

On the 14th, one day before the 21st National Assembly election, officials are disinfecting at a separate voting booth for those with fever symptoms and self-quarantined individuals at Cheongun Elementary School, the first polling station in Cheongunhyoja-dong, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] On the 15th, during the 21st National Assembly election, voters who are in self-quarantine due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) will be allowed to go out from 5:20 PM to 7:00 PM. The government urged these individuals to strictly follow personal hygiene rules such as wearing masks when visiting polling stations.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 14th, the voters eligible to vote while in COVID-19 self-quarantine on the 15th election day are those who received self-quarantine notices from the local government (public health center) by 6 PM on April 14th, including contacts of confirmed cases and overseas entrants who do not have COVID-19 symptoms such as fever or respiratory issues on election day.

Public officials in charge of self-quarantine confirm their voting rights and intentions through text messages and other means, and provide guidance on precautions such as regular reporting via the self-quarantine app, adherence to personal hygiene rules, and strict response to unauthorized departures for voting purposes.

Self-quarantined voters who are allowed to vote on election day may go out from 5:20 PM to 7:00 PM. Going out is permitted only if the travel time from the quarantine location to the designated polling station is less than 30 minutes one way by private car or on foot; public transportation is not allowed.

However, if voting time is delayed, the going-out time may be extended exceptionally, with follow-up management through the self-quarantine app and voting time logbook.

Those granted permission to go out must comply with personal hygiene rules such as wearing masks and travel to the designated polling station by car (no passengers allowed) or on foot. They must report their departure from the polling station, arrival at the waiting area, and return home via the self-quarantine app. If they do not have the app, they must report via text message or other means to the dedicated self-quarantine official at the polling station.

To separate the movement paths from the general public, self-quarantined voters wait at a nearby separate waiting area (outdoor or well-ventilated location) instead of the designated polling station. The dedicated self-quarantine official confirms the list of voters and ensures that self-quarantined individuals maintain a distance of at least 2 meters from each other and prohibits conversation or contact while waiting.

They vote at a temporary voting booth after the general public voting has ended, and disinfection is conducted immediately after voting before the next voter proceeds.

Self-quarantined voters who apply to vote but do not come to the waiting area or fail to report before or after voting will be strictly dealt with for unauthorized departure based on movement path analysis. Also, those who come to the polling station without prior declaration of voting intention are considered to have left self-quarantine without authorization, so caution is required.