Korean Job Discussion Forums

[HBKfirenze]

So I'm flying into Seoul next week to begin my teaching year. What are the chances that I get quarantined? I'll be flying from the States and absolutely do not want to be stuck in a room for my first week ever in Seoul. I'm not sick, but for example, if one person on my airplane is sick, does that mean we all get quarantined?

[PatrickBateman]

I don't know. Recently someone that works at my branch had to be quarantined after returning from a visit home from the United States. I'm not too sure how it is working these days, the swine flu crap has kind of blown over( at least at my Hagwon).

[moosehead]

[Ruthdes]

My school has a notice up that is supposedly from the health department that says that any newly arrived teachers are not allowed to be exposed to students for 5 (I think, could be 7) days. It doesn't sound like a true quarantine, but you can't enter the classroom. For those who've come back from holiday (which I did last Sunday), you're ok unless you're exhibiting flu like symptoms, in which case you can't work until you've been cleared after a visit to a clinic. I haven't had symptoms so I'm fine.

As for the one person on the plane getting sick, I'm not sure. I had to fill out a card that had my seat number on it, so maybe only if you're close to them?? Then apparently we all walked through a temperature checking device and were photographed (I didn't notice either). I didn't get stopped or questioned at all on the way in. Just handed in my card to the guys with masks on.

[ChinaBoy]

Yeah, it's not really a quarantine. You just don't work for a week. Go out and explore your new neighborhood.

[bassexpander]

There has now been a surge of over 100 cases in SK as of today:

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2009/06/20/0503000000AEN20090620002000320.HTML

I bet they'll still be quarantining foreigners after there are 1000 cases here.