'False Statement' Academy Instructor and Teenage International Student Under Police Investigation

Incheon Police Agency Arrests 1 Person and Detains 23 Without Arrest for Violating Infectious Disease Prevention Act

A private academy in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, where A (25), a private academy instructor diagnosed with COVID-19, worked. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] A private academy instructor and teenage international students who gave false statements to quarantine authorities regarding the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) are under police investigation.

On the 11th, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency announced that it is investigating 36 individuals, including private academy instructor A (25) from Incheon and international student B (18) residing in Busan, on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.

A is suspected of hiding his status as a private academy instructor and falsely claiming to be "unemployed" during the initial epidemiological investigation after being diagnosed with COVID-19 on the 9th of last month. He also claimed that he returned home at 6 p.m. on the 6th of last month, but an in-depth epidemiological investigation revealed that he lectured at an academy in Michuhol-gu from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. that day.

B entered the country through Incheon International Airport on March 25 after taking a large amount of antipyretics in the United States and passed quarantine. Although he showed suspected COVID-19 symptoms such as coughing and muscle pain from March 23, he was able to pass quarantine at both departure from the U.S. and entry into Korea by taking antipyretics.

B was diagnosed with COVID-19 at a nearby public health center near his residence in Busan the day after his arrival. Quarantine authorities believe that B deliberately falsified the "health status questionnaire" by stating "no symptoms" at the time of entry and have reported him to the police.

A police official stated, "The private academy instructor who was reported for giving false statements about his occupation and movement route after visiting Itaewon clubs is still hospitalized for treatment of another illness despite having been declared fully recovered," adding, "We plan to conduct a strict investigation reflecting medical staff opinions and monitoring treatment progress."

Meanwhile, the Incheon Police Agency has so far arrested one person and booked 23 others without detention on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, forwarding them to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment.

Among those sent to the prosecution or under investigation, the largest number, 45, were cases of unauthorized departure from self-quarantine locations, followed by 12 for violating assembly ban orders, and 3 for giving false statements during epidemiological investigations.

The police will continue to promptly investigate cases of violations of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act and will strictly prosecute violations after notifying that additional charges may be filed if quarantine or disinfection measures are violated before appearance.

In cooperation with health authorities and local governments, the police will actively respond by deploying 253 rapid response team members from metropolitan and provincial police agencies when requests for location and whereabouts confirmation are made.

Additionally, crackdowns on violations of assembly ban orders related to door-to-door sales businesses and unregistered door-to-door sales and multi-level marketing companies will be continuously conducted.

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