'Response to Novel Coronavirus' Ministry of Justice Transitions Foreigners Comprehensive Information Center to 24-Hour System

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Ministry of Justice has switched the Foreigners' Comprehensive Information Center to a 24-hour operation system to fully respond to the novel coronavirus infection.

The Ministry of Justice announced on the 31st that since the 28th, the Foreigners' Comprehensive Information Center has been operating 24 hours a day, strengthening guidance on infection prevention rules and interpretation support for the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) call center.

The center operates in 20 languages including Korean, English, and Chinese during weekday working hours. From 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day, it operates only in three languages: Korean, English, and Chinese. The same applies on weekends and public holidays.

The Ministry of Justice plans to provide preventive behavior guidelines and three-party interpretation services so that suspected cases of novel coronavirus infection can quickly report to the KDCA call center and receive appropriate measures.

If an undocumented foreigner is suspected of novel coronavirus infection and undergoes testing, even if the responsible official learns the foreigner's personal information, they are exempt from the obligation to notify the immigration and foreigner offices. According to Article 92-2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Control Act, which exempts the notification obligation, immigration and foreigner offices do not collect information on undocumented foreigners undergoing testing nor do they monitor medical institutions.

To eliminate blind spots in infection response, the Ministry of Justice requested on the 28th that the Ministry of Health and Welfare's KDCA actively utilize the notification exemption system for undocumented foreigners.

Additionally, before admission to the detention center for foreigners, all foreigners undergo temperature checks and medical interviews to assess for suspected infectious disease symptoms before deciding on detention.

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