Ministry of Justice Considers 'Forced Deportation' of British COVID-19 Patient Who Violated Self-Quarantine Guidelines

▲ Movement route of British male COVID-19 confirmed patient A disclosed by Suwon City (Provided by Suwon City)

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The Ministry of Justice has launched an investigation into a British man in his 30s, Mr. A, who ignored the self-quarantine recommendation after a COVID-19 test and engaged in outdoor activities without wearing a mask. The Ministry of Justice is reportedly considering deportation.

The Suwon Immigration Office and Foreigners' Affairs Office announced on the 29th, "We immediately began investigating whether to deport Mr. A by requesting related materials from the Suwon City Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters yesterday." They also stated, "We plan to promptly summon and investigate Mr. A as soon as his symptoms improve while receiving isolation treatment at the hospital."

According to the movement route of Mr. A disclosed by Suwon City on the 29th, Mr. A entered the country through Incheon International Airport on the 20th and visited the Yeongtong-gu Public Health Center screening clinic on the 23rd to undergo specimen collection.

However, despite the requirement to self-quarantine after a COVID-19 test, Mr. A was found to have visited Suwon City and nearby cities consecutively. In particular, on the day of the test, the 23rd, he visited other areas by bicycle and the next day visited a screen golf center. Mr. A came into contact with 23 people while moving through four regions: Seoul, and the cities of Suwon, Yongin, and Gwacheon in Gyeonggi Province. Fortunately, no confirmed cases have emerged among them, but all have been placed under self-quarantine.

Under Articles 11 and 46 of the current Immigration Control Act, acts that threaten public safety, such as ignoring quarantine authorities' self-quarantine recommendations and engaging in outdoor activities like Mr. A, can result in forced deportation.

Earlier, on the 19th, the Ministry of Justice announced that it would take strict measures, including deportation, against foreigners who disobey quarantine authorities' orders related to COVID-19, such as self-quarantine.

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