A woman in her 20s fined 2.5 million won after breaking self-quarantine and posting proof on SNS

Unauthorized self-quarantine breach. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A woman in her 20s who violated self-quarantine guidelines for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by going out to take photos and posting them on social networking services (SNS) was sentenced to a fine.

On the 3rd, Chief Judge Kim Ryong of the Criminal Division 4 at Cheongju District Court announced that A (21), who was indicted without detention on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, was sentenced to a fine of 2.5 million won.

The court stated the reason for sentencing, saying, "The crime of violating related laws during the serious period of COVID-19 spread is of a bad nature, making punishment inevitable."

A was prosecuted for leaving her home in Heungdeok-gu, Cheongju City, where she was under self-quarantine, at around 3:25 p.m. on April 4 and bringing food from a restaurant about 300 meters away operated by her mother.

While returning home, A took photos and posted them on her SNS, and a citizen who discovered this reported A to the National Sinmungo (People's Petition System).

A began self-quarantine after entering the country from the Philippines on April 1 and testing negative.

Cheongju City investigated A's unauthorized departure from self-quarantine and reported it to the police.

Violating self-quarantine measures is punishable under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act by imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won. Additionally, violators are excluded from receiving emergency disaster relief funds and living support payments.

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