Disease inspectors to knock on doors of crowded expat homes

Seoul Metropolitan Council's volunteer workers fumigate Daerim Joongang Market ― which is frequented by foreign visitors ― in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District, Feb. 5. Korea Times file

By Ko Dong-hwan

Residences with a high concentration of foreigners have become a target of the country's disease control authority over concerns of possible COVID-19 spread.

The Ministry of Justice said it will inspect the areas nationwide with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, local governments and civil communities starting in July.

The visits will focus on promoting self-quarantine procedures, advising on hygiene, and providing any household necessities to prevent infection among residents.

The planned knock-and-search comes after a joint government house-visit taskforce in May revealed more than 200 cases of overcrowding in dormitories housing migrants and poor sanitation.

The labor ministry, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries conducted the May house search on 493 dormitories near manufacturing, agriculture, farming and fishing business sites. A total of 249 health issues were found from 167 dormitories.

The July house search was scheduled because the country has seen an influx of foreigners due to eased entry restrictions, with many living in so-called “honeycombs” housing 10 to 20 under one roof where national health advice often has not been followed.

Yoon Tae-ho, quarantine chief of the country's central disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters, said the recent hike in confirmed coronavirus cases from overseas had all been discovered during mandatory quarantine, preventing the spread of disease to local communities.

The justice ministry was contacted for comment but did not reply.