Another Day of Quarantine... SME CEO Frustrated After Attending MWC

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] A CEO of a KOSDAQ-listed company who attended the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world's largest mobile communication exhibition held in Barcelona, Spain, and returned on the 6th, was frustrated at Incheon Airport. This was because, due to the COVID-19 situation, overseas business trips require not only a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test but also self-quarantine, and the domestic standards are still excessively strict.

From the 28th of last month to the 3rd of this month, 28 domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups participated in the MWC. Our companies participating in the event held over 1,500 consultations with overseas well-known corporate buyers and investors. They also achieved results such as signing letters of intent (LOI) and promoting cooperative projects. Although the MWC, which was postponed once last year due to the spread of COVID-19, resumed after eight months this year and the number of visitors was less than half compared to previous years, the atmosphere at the venue was intense.

However, domestic businesspeople returning to Korea had to frown from the entry process. This was due to excessively strict self-quarantine regulations that are unfair compared to other countries. According to current quarantine regulations, general company employees must self-quarantine for seven days upon returning from an overseas business trip. Executives or those with business purposes such as contract signing can be exempted from quarantine by obtaining a quarantine exemption certificate from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

However, even if a quarantine exemption certificate is issued, it does not mean they can go home immediately upon return. First, they must submit a PCR negative confirmation obtained within 48 hours before entry. Even after submitting the PCR negative confirmation, they cannot return home immediately. On the day of entry, they must move to a quarantine facility near Incheon Airport or in the metropolitan area, undergo another PCR test, and stay overnight. They can only return home if the result is negative the next day.

The CEO of the company who attended the MWC said, "Even though we have a PCR negative confirmation, conducting another test after entry is a waste of administrative power and manpower," and added, "If there is a PCR negative confirmation or vaccination certificate, we should be able to resume activities immediately upon return."

In the situation where the Omicron response system is being shifted and self-quarantine targets are being relaxed, quarantining overseas arrivals who have already received negative confirmation is also unfair. For example, from the 1st of this month, even people living with confirmed cases do not have to quarantine regardless of vaccination status. Those who must quarantine are confirmed cases, close contacts in infection-vulnerable facilities, and overseas arrivals.

Major advanced countries overseas have already simplified entry procedures. The United States exempts self-quarantine if the person has completed vaccination or has a PCR negative confirmation conducted within 24 hours before departure. Many European countries exempt quarantine for vaccinated individuals even without a PCR confirmation.

Meanwhile, regarding this, the government is currently considering exempting overseas arrivals who have completed COVID-19 vaccination from seven days of self-quarantine. However, it is known that the submission of a PCR negative confirmation issued within 48 hours before departure is likely to be maintained. A Central Disease Control Headquarters official said, "We will announce the revised guidelines for managing overseas arrivals by next week at the latest."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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