Quarantining in South Korea Part 2: The Facility Experience

이번편은 시설생활에 관한 후기에요, 

영국인 눈에서 씌여진 영문버전입니다. 한국입국을 계획하고 계신 외국인친구들, 남자친구, 남편분에게 미리 보여주시면

 

도움이 많이 될 것 같네요 :)

 

 

외국인단기시설비용/위치/안내(한글버전)

[영국인시설격리] 영국인 무비자 입국, 외국인단기시설비용, 위치

 

1편보러가기(영문버전)

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

 

---

 Quarantining in South Korea Part 2: The Facility Experience

 

After being handed a bag of goodies I was escorted over to the lift (elevator for the Americans) and was sent on my way. 

The first thing I noticed was the Koreans attention to detail. 

Streak marks were still visible from where the staff had flash cleaned the surrounding walls in between parties of Quarantiners. 

 

When I entered the room, I was quite impressed by the facility. 

It was on par with a 4 star hotel in the UK and would have gotten no complaints even there! I stayed at the Royal Emporium in Jung-gu If anybody is interested.

The first thing one does after flying is have a shower. 

Once out, I instantly notice announcements being voiced through the hotels intercom system. 

Announcements are quite sporadic in the sense that some will be a daily reminder that we aren’t allowed to leave under any circumstance and others to happily inform us that our food is here. 

 

 

They are given in a several languages (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian) The initial experience left a prison like taste in my mouth (I haven’t actually been to prison for those wondering ;) ) but once you understand that all this is because of the health and safety of yourself and the Korean people and the facility is actually pretty good, that taste washes away very quickly.

 

 

As well as receiving a thermometer we also receive a booklet (both in Korean and English) detailing how to take your rubbish out, emergency numbers 

(i will comeback to an anecdote involving this later), when you are allowed to leave etc.

 

 

Section 1 of the document: Faculty Quarantine Instructions

This sections outlines information such as when the quarantine was put in place how much you have (already) payed for the quarantine, any exceptions to leaving early (PS a negative COVID test isn’t your golden ticket.

 You need to stay for longer I’m afraid), further instructions for uploading your temperature, Food deliveries, and terms and conditions of staying there.

 

 

 Section 2: How to dispose Wastes in the Facility

I won’t spend too much time talking about this as its quite self explanatory.

 It essentially provides a pictorial step-by-step guide on how to pack your rubbish (double bagging in fluorescent orange biohazard bag)

 

 

Section 3: Ways to Leave this Facility

We will be here for 14 days (initially thought it was 15 nights but was wrong) If you arrived here on the 16th of July for example you could leave 00:00 on the 30th. 

 

 

This was good news! I get an extra day in Korea than I previously thought, but my girlfriend has to do some running around to extend our AirBnB for an extra night, poor thing!

 

 

There are 3 ways in which you can leave: A personal vehicle that picks you up at midnight, you will need to provide the vehicles number plate and contact information of the driver just in case they had an anterior motive!

A chartered bus provided by your company this one doesn’t apply to me but only to office workers here on business.

 

 

The final way is the infamous shuttle. 

This (annoyingly but understandably) goes to Unseo airport subway. 

So going into the centre of Seoul will require further transit. T

his arrives at 9:00AM of your release day (a survey is sent around a few days before your departure for you to fill in your desired route).

 

 

The food situation

Food is surprisingly good! It arrives 3 times a day and 8am, 12pm, 6pm and consists of rice, a main, veg and dessert and juice as well as some snack (a tasty example is given below)

 

 

 

 

Depending on how much you eat, you’ll find the food more than enough! 

You get given biscuits 3 times a day too along with your meal. 

They do provide more water in the room in the form of a 2 litre bottle but you can phone down to reception to request more.

 

 

 I wrote to the 24hr question service requesting some more Kimchi with my meals. I don’t know about other westerners but I can’t eat Kimchi only once per day when I’m in Korea. 

That’s torture! Hopefully they will send more, fingers crossed!

 

 

The front desk do a good job of accommodating your needs.

 In my room I noticed the wifi wasn’t working so after a bit of fiddling around, I called the front desk and asked them to look into it for me.

 They spoke very good English at the front desk so if needs be you should have no problem. 

The next morning there was a knock at the door and a hazmat specialist moonlighting as a wifi repair guy came in and kindly replaced my router and the wifi was back on!

 

 

A note on what to bring (I brought shampoo and shower gel with me as I didn’t know what they were going to provide). 

They provide everything you need. Towels, Shampoo, shower gel, toothbrush, toothpaste, and laundry soap, so you really only need to bring yourself! They even provide a kettle!