Lee Jae-yong Tests Negative for COVID-19 at Seoul Detention Center... Enters 4-Week Quarantine

Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is heading to the courtroom on the afternoon of the 18th at the Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, attending the retrial sentencing hearing for the 'state corruption' case.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong tested negative for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) after being incarcerated.

According to correctional authorities on the 19th, Lee, who was incarcerated at Seoul Detention Center the previous day, tested negative on a rapid antigen COVID-19 test administered immediately after his incarceration.

However, according to the correctional facility's COVID-19 response guidelines, Lee will undergo solitary confinement for four weeks followed by a second polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

The correctional authorities require new inmates to take a rapid antigen test upon admission, and even if the result is negative, they are quarantined for three weeks considering the incubation period. If the PCR test also returns negative, the quarantine is lifted.

In the case of Seoul Detention Center, the quarantine guidelines have been strengthened compared to other detention centers, extending the quarantine period from three weeks to four weeks.

It is reported that even after Lee tests negative on the PCR test and the quarantine is lifted, he will continue to stay in solitary confinement.

Lee was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison and taken into custody in court after being found guilty of bribery and other charges in the retrial related to the state affairs manipulation case the previous day.

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