Jeju Island Reports Overseas Entrants Who Violated Self-Quarantine Rules

Arrived in China on the 16th via Incheon Airport... Visited bank on the 18th for currency exchange

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Chang-won] Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced on the 21st that it will take measures to have overseas entrant A, who left the quarantine location without permission during the self-quarantine period, wear a safety band and plans to report him to the police for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

According to Jeju Province, A entered through Incheon International Airport from China on the 16th and arrived on Jeju Island at 10:30 PM the same day.

Immediately upon arrival, a specimen was collected at the walk-through screening clinic inside Jeju International Airport, and A began self-quarantine. On the next day, the 17th, around 2 PM, A received a negative test result from the Provincial Health and Environment Research Institute.

While continuing self-quarantine, A violated quarantine rules on the 18th by visiting a bank for currency exchange.

Jeju Province obtained information about the violation from the self-quarantine safety protection app, and after a Nonghyup bank employee checked the entry date stamped on A’s passport and reported it to the health center, an on-site investigation confirmed A’s departure from the residence.

The bank has completed its own disinfection measures.

With Jeju Province’s final decision to have A wear a safety band under the zero-tolerance principle, the total number of safety band wearers in the province has increased to four, and as of this day, there are a total of 324 people under self- or facility-quarantine.

Jung Joong-hwan, the General Coordinator of the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, emphasized, “In cases of unauthorized departure from self-quarantine, we will strictly hold individuals accountable by requiring safety band wear, filing charges for violations of current laws, and claiming compensation rights. Those subject to self-quarantine must strictly comply with quarantine rules to prevent the spread of infection.”

Meanwhile, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters’ strengthened management measures for self-quarantine violators, if unauthorized departure or failure to respond to calls is reported, dedicated management officials and police will be dispatched to verify the violation, explain the safety band, obtain consent, and require the violator to wear the safety band for the remaining self-quarantine period.

If a person leaves the quarantine location, they may face imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million KRW. Additionally, refusal, obstruction, evasion of epidemiological investigations, false statements, or intentional omission or concealment of facts may result in imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 20 million KRW.