Koreans Staying in Wuhan to Be Evacuated by Charter Flight Even If Showing Symptoms

700 Arrivals at Gimpo Airport on 30-31st
Quarantine in Jincheon, Chungbuk and Asan, Chungnam

Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo held a meeting on the 29th at Dalgaebi in Jung-gu, Seoul, with the heads of major medical and pharmaceutical organizations, including the Korean Medical Association and the Korean Pharmaceutical Association, to discuss measures to respond to the novel coronavirus infection. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporters Lim Cheol-young and Cho Hyun-ui] The government has decided to include symptomatic individuals, who were initially excluded, on the chartered flights sent to evacuate Korean residents stranded in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, due to the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) lockdown. The evacuees arriving at Gimpo Airport by chartered flights are expected to be quarantined separately at the National Human Resources Development Institute for Public Officials in Jincheon, Chungbuk, and the Police Human Resources Development Institute in Asan, Chungnam.

Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated on the 29th before a meeting with six medical association heads near Jung-gu, Seoul, "Symptomatic individuals will be isolated separately on the plane." The government had previously informed applicants that those exhibiting suspicious symptoms such as a fever above 37.5 degrees Celsius, vomiting, coughing, sore throat, or breathing difficulties would not be allowed to board and would be quarantined in Wuhan by the Chinese government. Minister Park added, "Symptomatic individuals will be transferred to isolation wards immediately upon arrival, while asymptomatic individuals will stay in temporary facilities for two weeks," and said, "Seating arrangements will be made to prevent cross-infection between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals."

Korean Air charter flights are scheduled to operate four flights over two days, two flights per day, on the 30th and 31st. Quarantine officers, doctors, and nurses dispatched from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be on board the Korean Air charter flights. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to dispatch a rapid response team led by Second Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho to support the charter flight operations on-site.

The government will screen evacuees for symptoms through departure quarantine before boarding the charter flights. Minister Park explained, "Quarantine officers dispatched domestically will check for fever and health conditions," adding, "Even asymptomatic individuals may be in the incubation period, so adjacent and front and back seats will be left empty." The chartered planes, being the latest models, are equipped with air circulation systems that allow for filtering.

Upon returning to Korea, entry quarantine will be conducted at the quarantine station. Quarantine officers will check for fever and health status as they do during return quarantine. Medical staff will be stationed 24 hours a day at the temporary facilities where asymptomatic individuals will stay separately.

After undergoing secondary quarantine, about 700 Korean nationals returning to the country will stay in temporary living facilities for two weeks if asymptomatic. Although the facilities have been designated as the National Human Resources Development Institute for Public Officials and the Police Human Resources Development Institute, an official from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, responsible for the decision, said, "We are currently reviewing and reorganizing all potential sites comprehensively," neither confirming nor denying the choice. The government had initially planned to use a facility near Cheonan but changed the plan due to local residents' opposition.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.