Suspension of Operation at Incheon COVID-19 Temporary Living Facility Following Unauthorized Departure of Foreigners

CCTV installed at temporary living facilities for overseas arrivals. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Min Jun-young] The operation of the temporary living facility for overseas arrivals on Yeongjongdo Island, Incheon, where two foreign nationals absconded without permission, will be suspended.

On the 11th, according to Bae Jun-young, a member of the Future United Party (Incheon Jung-gu, Ganghwa, Ungjin), the Central Accident Response Headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Welfare decided to release the Royal Emporium Hotel in Yeongjongdo, Jung-gu, Incheon, from its designation as a temporary living facility for overseas arrivals.

Once the Ministry of Health and Welfare notifies the hotel of this decision, it will take effect after five days, and it is expected to take about 20 days from that day for all residents to be withdrawn.

This hotel had faced criticism demanding the cancellation of its temporary living facility designation after two foreign self-quarantined individuals absconded consecutively in June and earlier this month.

However, the Ministry of Health and Welfare has maintained the position that the operation of temporary living facilities is determined based on the trends in overseas arrivals and the overall status of residents, making it difficult to cancel the facility designation due to complaints.

A temporary living facility refers to a place where foreign nationals staying short-term in Korea without symptoms undergo a two-week self-quarantine.

In Incheon, two temporary living facilities under the jurisdiction of the Central Accident Response Headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Welfare are in operation: the Royal Emporium Hotel and the Grand Hyatt Incheon.

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