Chinese national who escaped quarantine deported but not punished

The Korean government deported a Chinese national who was arrested for escaping mandatory isolation after testing positive for Covid-19 upon arrival in the country earlier this month.

A Chinese national who was arrested for escaping mandatory isolation after testing positive for Covid-19 upon arriving in the country earlier this month is taken to a hotel in central Seoul designated by the government as a quarantine facility on Jan. 5. [NEWS1]

The Korean government deported a Chinese national who was arrested for escaping mandatory isolation after testing positive for Covid-19 upon arrival in the country earlier this month.

The Central Disaster Management Headquarters confirmed Tuesday that the 41-year-old Chinese man was deported from Korea on Jan. 13 without further legal punishment.

The man tested positive for Covid-19 after undergoing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon arriving at Incheon International Airport on Jan. 3.

However, he ran off as soon as the special quarantine bus arrived at a hotel in Incheon designated by health authorities as a temporary quarantine facility for travelers with Covid-19.

He was later captured on CCTV entering a nearby supermarket and then taking a taxi to Seoul.

He was immediately placed on a wanted list for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, under which he could face up to a year in prison, a fine of up to 10 million won ($7,850) or deportation and restrictions on future entry into Korea.

On Jan. 5, the man was arrested by police at a hotel in Jung District, central Seoul, and transferred to a quarantine facility in Incheon.

Health authorities said upon his arrest that he would be sternly punished according to Korean law.

The man was investigated by immigration authorities after his quarantine period ended on Jan. 10.

He reportedly stayed with his wife at the hotel in Seoul, even going out despite his positive PCR test.

An official from the Central Disaster Management Headquarters said Tuesday that the man was investigated by the police for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and referred to prosecutors.

Ultimately, he was deported in mid-January without a trial or further legal measures.

The decision to simply deport the man reflected consideration that a trial would take over a month.

He is also barred from re-entering the country for one year.

Since Jan. 2, all travelers from China have been required to undergo PCR tests upon their arrival.

Arrivals who test positive for Covid-19 must stay at government-designated quarantine facilities for one week.

The restrictions followed a drastic spike in Covid-19 cases in China after Beijing lifted most of its "Zero Covid" policies last month.

In retaliation, China suspended issuing short-term visas for Korean and Japanese visitors earlier this month.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]