Assemblyman Heo Jong-sik Proposes "Incheon Port Cruise to Be Used as Temporary Living Facility for Arrivals"

Policy Meeting with Incheon Port Authority, Some Cruise Lines Respond Positively

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Heo Jong-sik is holding a policy meeting with officials from Incheon Port Authority on the 8th.
[Photo by Heo Jong-sik's office]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Democratic Party lawmaker Heo Jong-sik (Incheon Dong-gu Michuhol-gu Gap) has proposed using cruise ships at Incheon Port as temporary living facilities for overseas arrivals.

On the afternoon of the 8th, Heo held a policy meeting with the Incheon Port Authority at his office and pointed out, "There is a need for temporary living facilities for overseas arrivals amid the COVID-19 crisis, but there is also strong opposition and complaints from residents near the facilities."

He added, "As an alternative, I proposed to the Incheon Port Authority and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency the use of cruise ships as temporary living facilities for overseas arrivals."

Following Heo's proposal, the Incheon Port Authority began contacting domestic and international cruise operators that can accommodate 300 to 500 people, and some operators have reportedly responded positively.

Kim Jong-gil, Director of Planning and Coordination at the Incheon Port Authority, said, "As a state-owned enterprise, it is natural to participate in overcoming national crises. Given that cruise operations have been completely suspended, using them as temporary living facilities for COVID-19 is a good alternative."

The government has designated and is operating eight locations, including hotels and training centers in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, as temporary living facilities for overseas arrivals. These facilities are for foreign arrivals without symptoms who are staying in Korea short-term to self-quarantine for two weeks.

However, there have been cases of residents leaving the facilities without permission, as well as inappropriate behaviors such as spitting out of windows and throwing cigarette butts, leading residents to protest and demand the removal of the temporary living facility designations.

Heo said, "After inspecting the temporary living facility on Yeongjongdo Island in Incheon, securing a facility that can be operated stably seemed to be the key, and as an alternative, I requested the government to utilize cruise ships. Ahead of the post-COVID-19 era, our society must establish systems and institutions to wisely cope with infectious disease crises."

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