Quarantine Violators Required to Wear 'Safe Band', 'Human Rights Violation' Controversy Persists

The government announced on the morning of the 24th that the 'Self-Quarantine Violation Safety Band' will be implemented starting today (the 27th). The photo shows Kim Kang-rip, the 1st Chief Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), holding the safety band at the regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters held at the Government Sejong Complex in Sejong City.
[Image source=Yonhap News] Photo by Kim Kang-rip

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] As cases of COVID-19 self-quarantine subjects violating quarantine guidelines by leaving their designated locations without permission continue to occur, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) plans to require those who violate the guidelines to wear 'safety bands.' However, there is still controversy over 'human rights violations,' as there is no legal basis to enforce the wearing of safety bands and individuals may be treated as potential criminals.

At a regular briefing held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 24th, the CDSCH stated, "Most quarantined individuals comply well with the quarantine guidelines, but since some unauthorized departures continue to be confirmed, there is a need to strengthen management," adding, "From the 27th, those who violate self-quarantine, such as unauthorized departures, will be managed by wearing safety bands."

If those under self-quarantine violate the guidelines, local government officials and police will be dispatched to the site to confirm the violation and require the individual to wear a safety band for the remaining quarantine period. The authorities will seek 'consent' for wearing the band from violators, and those who refuse to wear it will have their quarantine location changed to facility quarantine, with the associated costs borne by the individual.

The majority of the public sympathizes with the government's stance. According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism through Korea Research on the 8th and 9th of this month regarding opinions on the introduction of safety bands, 80.2% expressed support. The most common reason for support, at 47.1%, was "because preventing the spread of infection is more important."

However, there remains no legal basis to forcibly impose safety bands, and human rights concerns persist. On the 9th, Choi Young-ae, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, stated in a press release, "The introduction of wristbands must be conducted within the minimum necessary scope under strict review of restrictions on individual fundamental rights, balance with public interest, and minimization of harm, supported by legal grounds," adding, "If the human rights values achieved through long deliberation and trial and error are once destroyed due to a crisis, it will be very difficult and time-consuming for society to rebuild them, which all members of society should keep in mind."

The COVID-19 Human Rights Response Network also expressed concern, stating, "The significant restrictions on bodily freedom, freedom of movement, and the right to privacy cannot be considered as subject to consent," and "It is difficult to regard consent to attachment as voluntary consent."

There are also criticisms regarding effectiveness. According to the CDSCH, as of the 23rd, there were 44,725 individuals under self-quarantine, with 272 violations and 269 people caught. This means only about 0.6% violated the self-quarantine guidelines.

In this regard, the Lawyers for a Democratic Society stated in a press release, "Considering that most self-quarantined individuals are complying with the guidelines, it is difficult to recognize an objective need to introduce electronic bracelets," and criticized, "It presumes treating those under self-quarantine not as citizens to be protected from infectious diseases but as potential risks to be controlled, regarding them as criminals regardless of their will."

The Korean Bar Association also criticized, saying, "There is a lack of explicit legal basis under current law, and it is unreasonable to consider the majority of citizens who comply well with self-quarantine as potential criminals."

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