Joint Chiefs of Staff Civilian Employee Confirmed with COVID-19

Joint Chiefs of Staff Headquarters Building

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] One civilian employee working at the Joint Chiefs of Staff tested positive for COVID-19. Although the infected person is not a member of the department related to the upcoming South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises scheduled for next month, the military is on high alert for any additional cases as the confirmed individual used the JCS building.

According to military officials on the 16th, one civilian employee affiliated with the JCS, located within the Ministry of National Defense premises in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, tested positive for COVID-19. This is the first confirmed case among JCS personnel. The civilian employee showed symptoms on the 15th, the first day the military eased social distancing from level 2.5 to level 2, and was diagnosed positive after undergoing testing at a hospital in Seoul.

Accordingly, the Ministry of National Defense has ordered about 20 people classified as close contacts to self-quarantine for two weeks. Additionally, a temporary testing site was set up within the premises on the morning of the same day to conduct tests on individuals whose movements overlapped with the confirmed case. The first round of testing will target approximately 100 to 200 people. A Ministry of National Defense official stated, "It has been confirmed that the confirmed case has not recently visited the Ministry of National Defense building," adding, "Whether a full survey of JCS personnel will be conducted depends on the results of the first round of testing."

This is the first confirmed case within the Ministry of National Defense premises since a cluster infection occurred last November at the direct unit, the Armed Forces Welfare Service.

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