Fencing National Team Member Tests Positive for COVID-19 Amid Flood of Criticism

Fencing Association Recommended Self-Quarantine for Athletes, but They Toured Chungnam Taean for 2 Days and 1 Night
"Players Who Ignored Recommendation Should Be Punished" Voices... Government Considering 2-Week Quarantine for All Arrivals

On the 19th, when the government expanded the special entry procedures to all incoming travelers worldwide to prevent the influx of COVID-19, passengers arriving on a passenger plane from Frankfurt, Germany, are undergoing the special entry procedures at Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport.
Photo by Moon Honam munonam@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Criticism is mounting after it was revealed that a female national fencing team member who tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from an international competition in Hungary ignored self-quarantine recommendations and traveled domestically. This comes amid a recent increase in cases of COVID-19 reinfections originating from overseas.

According to the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters in Taean-gun, Chungnam Province, on the 19th, national fencing team member A (36) tested positive for COVID-19 at a screening clinic on the afternoon of the 18th. This is the third case following national team members B (25) and C (35), who reside in Ulsan and Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, respectively.

Notably, A ignored the Korea Fencing Federation's two-week self-quarantine recommendation and traveled to Taean, Chungnam Province.

Earlier, the Korea Fencing Federation requested the team, which participated in the women's ?p?e event at the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Grand Prix held in Budapest, Hungary, from the 3rd and returned on the 15th, to self-quarantine for two weeks.

It is known that confirmed case A participated in the women's ?p?e event at the Grand Prix in Hungary on the 3rd and returned on the 15th.

A, who resides in Chungbuk Province, traveled to Taean with an acquaintance for a one-night, two-day trip starting on the 17th. After teammate B tested positive at a screening clinic in Ulsan the previous day, A visited the screening clinic at Taean County Health Medical Center for testing.

The Taean-gun Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters confirmed that the acquaintance who traveled with A visited three locations: a pension in Iwon-myeon, a convenience store, and another convenience store in Taean-eup, and conducted emergency disinfection.

In particular, three residents who had contact with A’s acquaintance were placed under self-quarantine, and specimens were collected for testing that morning. The test results are expected to be released in the afternoon.

The Korean women's ?p?e team participated in the Women's ?p?e Fencing Westend Budapest Grand Prix held in Budapest, Hungary, from the 6th to the 8th./Photo by Yonhap News

The Korea Fencing Federation announced that about 30 people, including male and female national fencing ?p?e team members and coaches who traveled to Hungary with A, as well as male national fencing sabre team members and coaches who rode the same bus, were instructed to self-quarantine.

As a result, some citizens are calling for punishment for the athlete who ignored self-quarantine and traveled. Office worker A (28) said, "I was very angry when I heard the news," adding, "Because of this athlete, local residents are not only anxious but also had to undergo COVID-19 testing. It is outrageous that the athlete traveled domestically after visiting a high-risk area. Punishment is necessary, whether by the fencing federation or the government."

Another citizen B (55) said, "It is unacceptable for a public figure to behave like this amid increasing COVID-19 cases among people returning from overseas," adding, "If this incident leads to multiple infections, public criticism will be unavoidable."

Meanwhile, as cases of COVID-19 positive individuals entering the country from abroad continue to be confirmed, the government is considering stronger measures, including mandatory two-week self-quarantine for all arrivals.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters’ quarantine team, said at a regular briefing at the Government Sejong Complex that mandatory two-week self-quarantine for all arrivals is "one of several options under discussion," adding, "Since mandatory self-quarantine requires various administrative support measures, a comprehensive review is underway."

He explained, "This discussion is being held due to public opinion that 'special entry procedures cannot detect asymptomatic cases.'"

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