"Feeling Proud of Being Praised as the No.1 Quarantine Country" Letter from a Korean American Who Was Quarantined in the US

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] "At first, I thought facility quarantine was unreasonable, but now my thoughts have changed. When my proud homeland is praised as the number one country in quarantine, I can no longer complain."

A 65-year-old Korean American who lived at the National Pension Service Cheongpung Resort (a quarantine facility in Jecheon, Chungbuk) immediately after returning to Korea to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is giving quiet inspiration by expressing gratitude before departure.

According to the National Pension Service on the 22nd, Mr. A, a 65-year-old Korean American, recently sent an email titled "Words of Thanks" to the facility staff. Mr. A, who stayed at the facility from the 9th to the 24th of last month, came to his homeland upon hearing that his mother, who lives alone, was critically ill.

Mr. A said, "When I flew to (Korea), the airport was controlled by soldiers, and at the facility where I was forcibly moved, police officers wearing space suit-like outfits were managing it," adding, "At first, I was at a loss about how to endure the 14-day quarantine."

He confessed that he was initially very dissatisfied with being forcibly quarantined while his mother was near death. Mr. A stated, "In a situation where my mother's death was approaching, facility quarantine for a healthy person like me was very unreasonable," and "I thought I would be embraced by my homeland as expected, but being quarantined like a suspected patient felt like a human rights violation."

He continued, "No matter how serious the COVID-19 situation is, it was unsettling to spend the time I should have been at my mother's bedside eating the meals given all day and idling around," and "I was at a loss about how to endure quarantine life."

He made plans as if he were making a daily schedule during elementary school vacations. Mr. A said, "Breakfast, meditation, lunch, supplementary nap, dinner, rest, sleep?there was basically nothing to do except eat and sleep," and "I spent each day marking X's on the calendar like when I was about to be discharged from the military."

After being released from quarantine, he held his mother's funeral and is currently preparing to return to the United States. Mr. A said, "Sometimes I recall the life trapped in that small room," and "After quarantine, I realized how precious the small things in daily life are, like morning coffee, drinking with friends, and even quarrels with my spouse."

As a U.S. citizen, he felt proud seeing Korea recognized worldwide as a model country for quarantine. Mr. A said, "When my proud homeland, the Republic of Korea, was praised as the number one country in quarantine, I could no longer complain," and "I understood that we must endure some inconvenience for something greater."

Mr. A especially expressed gratitude for the dedication of the facility staff. He said, "The facility staff spared no effort and fought hard for quarantine," and "I sincerely thank them for their hidden hard work."

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