Prosecution Indicts 30s for Quarantine Violation Without Detention... "Strict Response to Noncompliance with Quarantine Policies" (Comprehensive)

Overseas Koreans and expatriates from the Milan area in Italy are returning to Korea on the 1st via a charter flight through Incheon International Airport Terminal 2. Upon arrival, they all move to a designated facility to undergo COVID-19 testing. If everyone tests negative, they proceed to self-quarantine, but if even one person tests positive, all will be placed in facility quarantine for 14 days. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The Criminal Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Chang-soo) announced on the 1st that A (30) was prosecuted without detention for intentionally leaving the quarantine location during self-isolation treatment on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. Prosecution without detention means referring the case to a formal trial while the suspect remains out of custody.

A is accused of leaving the quarantine location and engaging in outside activities despite being classified as a contact of a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on the 1st of last month and being notified by the quarantine authorities to undergo self-isolation treatment.

It was confirmed that A visited areas in Seocho-gu, Seodaemun-gu, Gangnam-gu, and Yeongdeungpo-gu in Seoul four times over six days. The COVID-19 test results came back negative.

The prosecution has decided to refer cases like A’s, where quarantine measures by the authorities are violated, to formal trials. Along with this, they announced a strong response, including establishing a principle of detention investigation for overseas entrants who do not comply with the government’s strengthened quarantine management measures.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated on the same day, "If quarantine measures are intentionally violated and COVID-19 is spread, thereby obstructing government quarantine policies, frontline prosecutors' offices have been instructed to conduct detention investigations under the Quarantine Act and other relevant laws."

On the 1st, when the mandatory 2-week self-quarantine for all incoming travelers from abroad began, Terminal 1 arrival hall at Incheon International Airport was bustling with arrivals, police officers, and traffic guidance staff. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Earlier, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that from midnight on the same day, a two-week self-quarantine would be applied to all entrants coming from abroad. Accordingly, overseas entrants who violate the government’s quarantine measures will face criminal penalties of up to one year imprisonment or fines of up to 10 million KRW under the Quarantine Act.

The Ministry of Justice also announced on the same day that it has digitized a system to share contact and address information of foreigners in Korea to prevent the domestic inflow of COVID-19 and facilitate information exchange with local governments.

The Ministry of Justice improved the previous method of manually recording the whereabouts of foreigners without smartphones and delivering the information to local governments. From this day forward, during the immigration screening stage, immigration officers will input the address and contact information into the system, download it, and provide it to local governments via email.

Meanwhile, as of 9 a.m. on the 1st, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced that there are a total of 382 COVID-19 related cases under prosecution management. Specifically, 54 cases are under investigation, 253 cases are under police supervision, 69 cases have been prosecuted (40 detained prosecutions), and 6 cases have been dismissed.

By charge, the cases are tallied as follows: ▲ 181 cases of mask payment fraud (fraud) ▲ 54 cases of hoarding health supplies (violation of the Price Stabilization Act) ▲ 61 cases of spreading false information (obstruction of business, etc.) ▲ 29 cases of leaking information on confirmed or suspected patients (breach of official secrets, etc.) ▲ 9 cases of false reporting of contact with confirmed patients, false statements during epidemiological investigations, and refusal of quarantine (obstruction of official duties by deception, etc.) ▲ 48 cases of selling uncertified masks and smuggling masks (violation of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and Customs Act).

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