Infections Surge in Academies in Yeouido, Seoul... Ministry of Education Issues "Administrative Order to Refrain from Operation"

28 Confirmed Cases in Academies This Month After Transition to Living Quarantine System
Only 3 Confirmed Cases in Academies in April

Spread Accelerated After May Itaewon Club Cluster Infection
Ministry of Education "Urges Refraining from Using Academies Until the 14th"
Additional Quarantine Rules for Users

An instructor and two students who worked at an academy located in Yeouido were confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). On the 29th, citizens lined up at the Yeongdeungpo Public Health Center screening clinic in Seoul to undergo diagnostic testing. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Cases of infection with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) within private academies are rapidly increasing, raising concerns about the spread of infections related to these facilities.

According to the Ministry of Education on the 30th, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases within private academies in May was 28. Among them, 7 were instructors and staff, and 21 were students infected from these cases.

In April, due to strict social distancing measures, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases within private academies was limited to only 3 students. However, since the infection originating from the Itaewon clubs in Seoul in May, related infections have been continuously reported.

An instructor at a private academy in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, visited the Itaewon clubs and was confirmed positive, leading to 17 students in Incheon testing positive. A kindergarten student was confirmed positive after contact with an instructor at a private academy in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, resulting in adjustments to attendance schedules at nearby kindergartens and schools. Recently, an instructor at a private academy in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, was confirmed positive; among 8 students who had contact, 2 tested positive and 6 are awaiting test results.

As infections originating from private academies continue, the education authorities have issued an administrative order to refrain from operating high-risk facilities with high density, such as private academies, until the 14th of next month. A notice was sent to parents urging them to refrain from using private academies during the administrative order period. Additional quarantine measures such as maintaining visitor logs, symptom checks, and mask-wearing have been added for users other than existing business owners and workers. Failure to comply may result in fines of up to 3 million won for facility owners and users.

Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye visited Hangang Middle School in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 25th to inspect the school's quarantine preparations for in-person classes. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Ministry of Education, in cooperation with metropolitan and provincial offices of education and local governments, is conducting quarantine inspections and will issue correction orders and assembly bans to private academies violating quarantine rules. In cases where confirmed cases occur, strong measures such as facility closures will be implemented.

Meanwhile, as cluster infections have spread at the Coupang logistics center in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, the Ministry of Education announced measures to minimize school density in the metropolitan area the day before. Except for high schools, kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, and special schools are allowed to have only up to one-third of their students attend in person. Outside the metropolitan area, the existing recommendation for up to two-thirds of all students attending school remains in place. The scheduled in-person attendance on the 3rd of next month (for 1st-year high school, 2nd-year middle school, and 3rd-4th grade elementary students) and the 8th (for 1st-year middle school and 5th-6th grade elementary students) will proceed as planned. Nationwide, 830 kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools have adjusted their attendance schedules as of the previous day.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye stated, "We will continue to prioritize student safety and, to balance quarantine and learning, will take swift and proactive measures in cooperation with metropolitan and provincial offices of education and quarantine authorities when local infections occur, as before."

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