[Report] "Overseas Koreans Are Also Our People, So It Feels Uncomfortable... But We Will Continue to Oppose"

"Residents Are Being Told to All Die"
"There Are Many Schools and Elderly Nearby"
Strong Opposition Continues in Asan and Jincheon

Local Governments Are Embarrassed but Follow Government Policy to Accept Returnees
Low Possibility of Changing Quarantine Sites

On the 30th, as public anxiety grows over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), residents of Asan clashed with police near the Chungnam Asan Police Human Resources Development Institute, which was designated as the quarantine facility for evacuees from Wuhan. / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy (Asan) = Reporters Jeong Il-woong and Lee Jeong-yoon] On the morning of the 30th, on a four-lane road about 500 meters from the main gate of the Police Human Resources Development Institute in Chosa-dong, Asan-si, Chungnam, dozens of agricultural machinery such as tillers and tractors, as well as large vehicles, were tangled together. This was because residents blocked the entrance after the Police Human Resources Development Institute was confirmed as the quarantine site for Korean residents returning from Wuhan, China, by chartered flight.

About 900 police officers from 12 companies deployed to maintain order at the scene began securing the entrance around 7:40 a.m. that day. A remarkable scene unfolded where about 10 police officers clung to a single tiller to push it away. After about an hour and a half of police work, the four-lane road leading to the Police Human Resources Development Institute was fully cleared. About 50 residents watching this burst out in anger. Resident Lee (71) raised her voice, saying, "They say Wuhan pneumonia is an infectious disease, but it sounds like they want all residents to die." Resident Kim Myeong-sook (65, female), who lives only 250 meters from the Police Human Resources Development Institute, said, "There are schools and many elderly people around, so what are they planning to do by bringing in Korean residents from China?" She added, "Although the returnees are our citizens and it makes me uncomfortable, I will continue to oppose their entry."

The day before, in the afternoon when residents' opposition intensified, Asan Mayor Oh Se-hyun and Lee Seung-woo, Director of the Disaster and Safety Bureau of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, visited the site and tried to engage in dialogue with the residents, but it failed. Residents, led by the Onyang 5-dong Village Chief Association, the Residents' Autonomy Committee, and Saemaul leaders, remain determined to block entry to the Police Human Resources Development Institute. Song Dal-sang, chairman of the Village Chief Association, said, "At first, it was decided to use Cheonan, but when they opposed it there, it was changed to Asan, which is absolutely unacceptable," adding, "We oppose the decision made without any safety measures."

On the 30th, near the Chungnam Asan Police Human Resources Development Institute, which was decided as the quarantine facility for Wuhan evacuees, police officers moved agricultural machinery brought by residents off the road and are standing guard. A tent with the phrase "Administration that abandoned Asan citizens, the Republic of Korea government abandoned Asan" is set up in front of the police. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

At the National Civil Service Human Resources Development Institute in the Innovation City of Jincheon-gun, Chungbuk, another designated quarantine facility for Korean residents, residents held an overnight sit-in protest. Around 9 p.m. the previous day, Kim Kang-rip, Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, met with about 300 protesting residents to explain the government’s policy and express apologies, but a scuffle broke out as agitated residents blocked Vice Minister Kim. In particular, residents argue that there is concern about the spread of infectious diseases due to the densely populated residential area and insist on a strong response until the policy is withdrawn.

Local governments in charge are also expressing difficulty. Although they intend to accept the returnees according to government policy, it is difficult to find a solution to calm the strong opposition from residents. Chungnam Governor Yang Seung-jo appealed, "Please trust Chungnam’s administration and actively participate," and Asan City expressed regret that its request for consultation with the government was not accepted but stated it would support the effort from a magnanimous perspective. Regarding future responses, a Chungnam provincial government official said, "We need to observe the situation," withholding further comment.

The police have also not issued any particular stance. A police official said, "The Police Human Resources Development Institute can accommodate about 600 people in individual rooms, and since it is a police facility, it is considered effective in terms of control and management, which is why this place was designated," adding, "Preparations for accommodating the returnees are ongoing."

Meanwhile, the government seems unlikely to reverse its position on the quarantine site decision. A Ministry of the Interior and Safety official said, "There has been no change since the decision made at yesterday’s Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting," and "There are currently no plans for additional designations." The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters held its third joint meeting with related ministries at the Government Sejong Complex the previous day and announced the designation of two temporary living facilities for Korean residents arriving by chartered flight from Wuhan: the Asan Police Human Resources Development Institute and the Jincheon National Civil Service Human Resources Development Institute.

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