Chinese International Students Advised to Take Leave or Attend Online Classes... Support Provided for Quarantine Measures After Entry (Update)

Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, Additional Measures Meeting on the 16th
Ministry of Education, Establishes Protection and Management Measures for Chinese International Students Entering Korea
"Distributing Flexible Academic Guidelines Including Leave of Absence Permission"

On the 4th, students wearing masks are passing in front of a banner with guidelines for preventing the novel coronavirus infection at Yonsei University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The government has prepared protection and management measures for Chinese international students entering Korea in anticipation of an increase in arrivals aligned with the upcoming semester start. This is a measure to minimize the domestic inflow of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), with plans to tighten management systems before and after entry.

On the 16th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters held a meeting at the Government Seoul Office Building chaired by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and finalized these measures. First, before entry, the expected date of entry, domestic residence (planned), and contact information are confirmed, and universities are instructed to notify students in advance about academic schedules such as semester start dates and policies on suspension of attendance. Students who experience delays in visa issuance or difficulty entering the country are guided to use remote classes within China or allowed to take a leave of absence.

Upon entry, quarantine is strengthened under special entry procedures to closely monitor health status. The school is immediately notified upon entry, and schools are also instructed to continuously monitor students. During the 14-day suspension of attendance after entry, schools are to check students daily for symptoms and instruct them to stay in dormitories or their respective residences while refraining from going out. Dormitory residents are assigned one student per room as a principle, and management is conducted to minimize contact among international students.

Chinese International Students to Be Managed Step-by-Step Before and After Entry
14-Day Suspension of Attendance and Refraining from Going Out After Entry... Restrictions on Use of Multi-Use Facilities
Universities to Monitor Student Symptoms at Least Once Daily

Students living independently are also advised to refrain from going out and contact for two weeks, with schools monitoring symptoms at least once daily. Students themselves report symptoms to authorities via a self-diagnosis application installed upon entry. Students are pre-informed that they cannot use multi-use facilities such as university cafeterias or libraries, and universities are instructed to establish usage restriction measures accordingly. A hotline is established among universities, local governments, and health authorities to enable rapid response by linking immediately with health authorities upon symptom onset, and universities are to set up dedicated organizations for international students to establish student and group-specific management systems.

Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye explained at a briefing that "Dormitories will be utilized mainly for students as determined by each university, and other international students will basically manage themselves at their own residences. However, anticipating a shortage of accommodation space, cooperation has been requested to use facilities such as local government training centers, and based on the expected entry dates of Chinese international students, consultations and adjustments will be made with local governments."

Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye (right in the photo), Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Chief Park Neung-hoo, and others are briefing after a meeting at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 16th.

Additionally, considering the upcoming start of kindergarten, elementary, and middle schools, the meeting also confirmed measures to strengthen school-level disinfection. Special disinfection will be conducted before school starts, and facilities frequently touched after school starts will be disinfected multiple times daily. If a patient occurs among students or staff requiring school closure, the closure will be minimized through consultation with health and education authorities, and support will be provided to operate the new semester curriculum normally.

Meanwhile, to support workplaces struggling due to COVID-19, the government plans to ease the requirements for employment retention subsidies for workplaces visited by confirmed cases or those that have closed due to production disruptions or decreased demand caused by COVID-19. Even if sales do not decrease by 15% or more, employers who inevitably need to adjust employment will be recognized and supported. Workplaces with increased production, such as mask manufacturers, will receive prompt action upon application for special extended work hours according to requirements.

Furthermore, workers entering Korea from China after the Chinese Lunar New Year (Chunje) are recommended to take two weeks of leave or suspension. Approximately 720,000 masks are being distributed mainly to vulnerable workplaces, and an additional 800,000 masks will be distributed by the end of this month according to supply and demand. This applies to public institutions with many civil complaints, ports, and lodging businesses in Jincheon and Asan areas. Workplace response guidelines, including recommendations to avoid excessive quarantine measures such as unnecessary closures exceeding three days due to a confirmed case visit, which could stifle business activities, will be distributed on the 17th.

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