COVID-19 'False Statement' Incheon Academy Instructor Arrested... Police Say "Serious Matter"

Suspected of Obstructing Epidemiological Investigation by Falsifying Occupation and Movement
Multiple Infections Reported at Coin Karaoke Rooms, First Birthday Buffet Restaurants, and More

The tutoring academy in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, where A (24), a tutoring instructor diagnosed with COVID-19, worked. / Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] An Incheon academy instructor who caused controversy by lying about his occupation and movement during the epidemiological investigation after contracting the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been arrested.

On the 20th, the Michuhol Police Station in Incheon announced that they had arrested and sent academy instructor A (24, male) to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.

The police explained, "We decided to arrest him because the matter was serious, with many infected patients occurring due to A's lies."

A is suspected of lying about his occupation and intentionally withholding some of his movement routes during the initial epidemiological investigation after being diagnosed with COVID-19 in May this year.

He concealed his status as an academy instructor and falsely claimed to be "unemployed," and also failed to inform the quarantine authorities that he had taught at a private academy in Michuhol District before his diagnosis, leading to a complaint from the Incheon city government.

The police executed an arrest warrant issued by the court in advance when A voluntarily appeared at the police station four days after being discharged from the hospital on the 6th.

A said to the police, "I lied because I was shocked after testing positive for COVID-19 at the time, and I was so flustered that I don't remember well," adding, "I am sorry to those who were infected."

A is the 102nd confirmed COVID-19 patient in Incheon, infected after visiting clubs in Itaewon, Seoul. Because he lied about his occupation and movement, contacts were not quarantined or tested in advance, leading to a surge in community infections.

Infections linked to the private academy where A worked and the Incheon coin karaoke visited by his students spread to a buffet restaurant at a first birthday party in Bucheon, and confirmed cases continued daily across the metropolitan area.

More than 40 confirmed cases related to A, including elementary, middle, and high school students, were reported in Incheon alone, and over 80 people were infected nationwide. The transmission originating from A led to cases of '7th generation infection.'

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