Vacation season is upon us and for a lot of people, its time to see our families.
Since the COVID pandemic, everyday life has changed, including how we travel either for business, leisure or work. Things are easing up in some parts of the world, and people are looking to travel again. Here in South Korea, the Government announced, starting from July 1, that those who have completed their COVID-19 vaccination will be exempt from quarantine. You can receive a quarantine excemption from the Korean embassy or at the airport. Once you arrive in Korea, if you have a quarantine excemption, you should visit our Seongbuk-gu Public Health Center to register your vaccination.
Seongbuk-gu Public Health Center
63 Hwarang-roSeongbuk-gu Seoul
Wolguk Station Exit 2
02-2241-6121
If you don’t fall into the said class, you are to undergo a mandatory two-week quarantine; however, this can be waived for visitors who have completed their vaccinations.
NOTE: Residents please remember to come back before your reentry permit expires.
Quarantine isn’t a bad idea since most people are home all day, but the word does something to our psyche, and we feel confined. In this article, I hope to help ease the ‘stress’ of quarantine in South Korea.
So let’s hop into it.
Before you leave for Korea.
If you are traveling for reasons other than work or school, you have to cover the quarantine expenses. Seeing you will be stuck in for 10 days, you can stock up on snacks;as a resident, you can order them or ask friends beforehand so that the items are at your door when you arrive.
If you are a short-term visitor, you will be required to stay in a Government- designated COVID-19 quarantine facility. However. , if you are planning on staying in a hotel, I would like to recommend DH Naissance Hotel. As far as I know, it is the only hotel in Seongbuk registered as a temporary residence.
DH Naissance Hotel
39 Dongsomunro 20na-gil Seongbuk-gu Seoul
Seongsin Women University Station Exit 1
https://dhnaissance.modoo.at
You must also perform a PCR test within 72 hours of departure;ensure you get that done. My advice is to get your PCR test the same day if you can.
No matter what Visa you’re coming into Korea with, you must fill out the quarantine form, except you have quarantine excemption form.
Arrival in Korea.
If you are new to Korea, you will need aphone number as you will be checked daily. You can get a SIM card at the Incheon internationally airport.
Arriving at the airport, you will go through 3 stopsbefore immigration.
- First stop: You will have your temperature checked. Make sure your COVID test results are handy as you will present them. If you have a temperature of 37.7 and above, you will be givena special badgeand moved to another area for additional testing.
- Second stop: You will be required to download an app to track you throughout the 10 days quarantine. You will fill in your personal information.
- Third stop: Here, some verification will be done, especially your place of quarantine; landlord, friend, or spouse will be called.
If you are in the government facility, you may not need to download the QR code app.
After all these, you will be guided to the immigration desks to complete other tasks. Overallthe process is fast and well managed, and help is available whenever you need it.
After the immigration, baggage claim, and customs, you will be escorted to another area where a transport facility will be prepared for you as you can’t use public transport. There are designated taxis or buses for you to use, but if you are going to a Government facility, a bus will take you. Once you get to your destination, your temperature will be checked again.
Quarantine in Korea
Within three days of arrival to your apartment or lodge, you are expected to take a PCR test at a designated health center. The center will keep track of your activities; provide you with KF94 masks, hand sanitizers, trash bags as your trash will be separated from others in the building.
Depending on your neighborhood, afood package that may contain ramen, rice, spam, or non-perishable items for the next 10 days may be provided. If this is applicable, you should mention your food preferences if you have any; however, you may not have much freedom about choice. Otherwise, you have an option of ordering food using apps like Help me Emo,trazy food delivery, coupang eats, shuttle delivery, and iherb for non-groceries items.
While in quarantine and you miss out on gym activities, you check some workouts on youtube, read that fiction or non-fiction book you have been hoping to read, or the movie you have wanted to. It’s also time to get that much-needed sleep.
If you happen to be in a Government facility, don’t forget to go with some snacks. Although you will be given food, it wouldn’t hurt to have a little something extra.
Finishing Quarantine
On the last day, you have to take your last covid test. If the results read negative, you will be allowed to live freely. You will have collected some trash; make sure to keep your food trash in the freezer not to stink up the whole place. While some local areas will pick it up after your quarantine, some will allow you to throw it with the apartment trash;if you test negative after the 10 days.
I hope this will help you get settled as you plan to travel to figure out how to quarantine in Korea and what to expect.
All the best.
[글/성북마을기자단 티티, 사진 서울시]