Police Arrest 2, Refer 20 for Violating COVID-19 'Self-Quarantine' Rules, 164 Caught

Commissioner Min Gap-ryong of the National Police Agency. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] It has been revealed that around 160 people were caught violating 'self-quarantine' rules related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Min Gap-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated at a press conference on the 20th, "We have taken action against 268 people for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and are continuing investigations," adding, "Among them, 164 violated self-quarantine rules, with 2 arrested and 20 sent for prosecution."

In Songpa-gu, Seoul, a man in his 60s who entered from the United States violated self-quarantine twice and visited places such as saunas, resulting in his arrest. In Uijeongbu-si, Gyeonggi Province, a man in his 20s under self-quarantine was arrested after repeatedly leaving his home and temporary living facility without permission. Aside from self-quarantine violations, many of the ongoing investigations into violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act are believed to involve businesses that failed to follow quarantine prevention guidelines or churches that forcibly held illegal gatherings.

Commissioner Min emphasized, "The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and local governments issue orders under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, and we provide administrative support when police cooperation is required," adding, "If individuals repeatedly leave quarantine, provide false residential information and have no fixed residence thereafter, or deliberately disobey orders under the law, we will take strict measures such as arrest and investigation."