Quarantining in South Korea Part 1: UK to Quarantine facility -Written by Luke

남자친구가 직접 쓴 외국인 단기시설 격리 이야기입니다.

 

앞으로 한국방문을 계획 중이신 영국인남편 혹은 남자친구를 두신 분들, 한국에 오기 전 사전이해용으로 보여주시면 좋을 것 같아 공유해봅니다 :) 

 

 

저또한 남자친구가 한국에 오기 전, 남자친구의 부모님들이 걱정하실 것 같아 영문 후기글을 보내드리고 싶었는데 별로 없더라구요.

 

재밌게 읽어주세요 :)

 

 

>>>시설사진, 도시락사진 등이 포함된 한글버전은 여기로

[영국인시설격리] 영국인 무비자 입국, 외국인단기시설비용, 위치

 

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Quarantining in South Korea Part 1: UK to Quarantine facility

 

My trip began on Wednesday the 16th July, where I was travelling to South Korea in order to get married to my girlfriend, whom had travel back to Korea because of the Coronavirus outbreak in the UK back in March.

 

 

I was able to go to Korea as the UK government deemed it safe enough back in early July so I took them upon their offer and travelled out (I entered Korea essentially as a tourist would on a travel visa). This wasn’t an impromptu trip; I work full time as a consultant so I had to book off a substantial amount of annual leave, so we had to plan well in advance. Checking the coronavirus cases in the UK for evidence of a decline was as routine as my morning alarm!

 

 

Entering into Heathrow did show evidence of a global pandemic (although many of you may agree, living in the UK its hard to see actual evidence something was going on as the governments only strategy was to lockdown the country). Thermal cameras scattered around the entrance of the terminal, although signs were displaying that they were they for testing purposes so were unlikely to be of any use! Apart from this, social distancing stickers littered the floor as well as an abundance of facemarks worn by almost everybody.

 

 

When checking in, I had to date and sign a form detailing that I agree to be quarantined by the wishes of the Korean government. It stated that the amount equates to 2,100,000W (at the time of writing) my quarantine experience was cheaper than this at 1,680,000 but I understand it can vary. I can’t speak for the rest of the airlines but before boarding the plane (with Korean Air), my temperature was taken and I was given the all clear to board. The flight was 10hrs long, and throughout the entire journey (albeit for two 10 minute intervals) I remained masked and face shielded up (yep, I’m one of those), as it would be a massive kick in the nuts to my trip and my future if I were to carelessly contract the virus. The cabin crew made every attempt to space us out I got a window seat and the only person that posed a threat was someone sitting behind me, but due to these long haul flights, leg room is above average and chairs are sufficiently high. Everybody wore masks for the entire duration of the flight.

 

 

In order to prepare for landing we had to fill out a handful of documents. A few more than pre-Coronavirus, describing symptoms and listing previous travel destinations. This was my first hint that South Korea are already taking this virus far more seriously than the west. There were 5 stages between landing and being allowed to set foot in Korea.

 

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Stage 1:

Once we landed we were first greeted by a help desk and numerous banners erected from the floor giving us clear instructions on how to download the symptom reporting app. Once this was downloaded, you are directed to a checkpoint where you hand in once of your many sheets for them to check and process. Once this is checked and processed, your temperature is taken thermally via your forehead and inner ear (I’m assuming to avoid the tricksters attempting to bypass this by cooling their forehead) and once confirmed that I had to undertake government facilitated quarantine he handed be a lanyard which I was ordered to put around my neck.

 

Stage 2:

There was a queue of almost minion looking fellas which assisted us in filling out and registering the symptom checker app whilst in Korea. Next, we had to queue up to talk to what seemed like somebody who worked for a call centre. I handed him the information and he requested a number of a Korean who you are visiting or are in main contact with. He rang the number and once your chosen Korean confirmed who you are he you moved on to filling out more documentation. 

 

 

Stage 3:

Writing your address, filling out your personal details and travel information (PS is you aren’t a native Korean and have a slow hangul writing speed, like myself, and want to memorise a Korean address. Pick this as your destination. I must have written the address out like 12 or 13 times!). You handed it to these ladies sat on a desk protected by a plastic sheet. They read through it and was then stamped and handed back to you.

 

 

Stage 4:

Passport control. Finger prints were taken and a disgusting looking picture is taken of you (wearing a mask and face shield for around 20 hours did not make for a photogenic experience) once this was done you are free to collect your luggage.

 

Upon collecting you luggage and walking out it looks like what you think is the finish line. But, there was one stage.

 

 

Stage 5:

If you’ve seen Love actually you probably think the arrival gate looks like this. This looks nothing like that. It looks like a halloween party where everybody went as hazardous material technicians. A desk separating you from freedom grabs your attention and you are directed into what looks like a cattle pen where onlooking Koreans can get a glimpse of potential Coronavirus carriers. I waited in here for around 30 minutes and disinfected my belongings to show them that I too take this serious and not everything you read about the coronavirus and westerners is true. I requested to go to the toilet and was directed to the adjacent toilet and he proceeded to wait outside for me. This must be what Justin Beiber feels like!

 

I was then lead outside to what I though was freedom, but it involved more waiting. They took my name and my passport number and wrote down where I had come from and waited some more. Slowly, people started appearing. My desire to get out as quickly as possible in order to rest apparently bit me in the heinie as I was waiting for a further hour so they could take us all to the quarantine facility. Once we has enough people (8) we got on the bus and once they were happy with everything they took us off to the quarantine site which I was informed it was 20 minutes away so I was quite lucky.

 

Upon arrival there were more checks. Slowly I was understanding why the British government hadn’t implemented such a process as it requires a lot of planning which I don’t think they are capable of… We lined up to get our passport checked again and received a thermometer which they advised us to use in the armpit and record our temperature twice daily. Then came the Coronavirus test. The rumours are true. It’s uncomfortable, it doesn’t hurt just uncomfortable. The man informed me that I could have a headache tomorrow because of how far the probe went into my nose (a good 3 inches!). Once your eyes and nose have stoped running and you can see clearly, you are then sat down to set up the new app. You delete the one you first downloaded at the airport (as I believe this was for people who quarantine at their own residence). Once this is set up you receive your room key and then go on to pay. Once payment is cleared you then get taken to your room with a box of goodies to enjoy. You can now relax for two weeks! You did it!