Will the British COVID-19 Patient in Suwon Be Deported?…City Forms 'Legal Response Team' for Self-Quarantine Violations

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Suwon City in Gyeonggi Province has formed a legal response team to take action against those who violate self-quarantine measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

On the 1st, Suwon City announced that it has organized a legal response team consisting of three members: a legal affairs officer, a team leader, and a lawyer (contract public official). If a person violates self-quarantine without a valid reason, the team will secure evidence, conduct legal review, and report the case to the competent police authorities.

Currently, those who violate self-quarantine are subject to stricter penalties under the amended "Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act," which, starting this month, imposes up to one year imprisonment or a fine of up to 10 million won.

Suwon City formed the legal response team because, while most citizens are enduring inconveniences and participating in daily quarantine measures such as social distancing, some violators of self-quarantine have caused financial and administrative damages.

Earlier, on the 23rd of last month, a 30-year-old British man (Suwon patient number 27) who visited a screen golf course before receiving his test results after specimen collection at the Yeongtong-gu Public Health Center screening clinic became the direct trigger for forming the legal response team.

The British patient entered the country on the 20th of last month with COVID-19 symptoms and, before being confirmed positive on the 24th, moved through four cities including Suwon without wearing a mask, coming into contact with a total of 23 people over five days.

Moreover, on the 23rd at 3:30 p.m., after visiting the Yeongtong-gu Public Health Center screening clinic for specimen collection and returning home, he rode a bicycle to visit other areas and then, at 9:40 a.m. the next day, visited a screen golf course in Yeongtong 3-dong, sparking public outrage.

On the 27th of last month, Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young disclosed the British man's movement path on Facebook, stating, "Suwon City will hold this person strictly accountable in the future."

Currently, the Suwon Immigration Office and Foreigners Office are considering deportation of the British individual.

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