Seoul City Government Mandates Coronavirus Tests for All Foreign Workers

When it comes to COVID-19 in South Korea, the results are mixed. After China, South Korea was one of the first countries to be severely infected by the virus. It was a hotspot and life here was very uncertain. I had just arrived and there were reports of foreigners deciding to leave the country, or at least considering the idea. 

South Korea was soon applauded for gaining control of the outbreak and the numbers dropped. South Korea, along with Taiwan and Singapore, became a model for the world. There was much praise and back-patting amongst Korean leaders in the press.

A year later, South Korea has managed to keep the virus infection rates low, except for a few spikes throughout the year. However, the Korean government has been heavily criticized for its inability to secure vaccines for the population when other countries are much further ahead in vaccinating their people. For instance, South Korea was at least one month behind Canada in starting to vaccinate frontline health workers. I don't know when I will receive a vaccine in South Korea, but estimates are for the late summer/early fall. It seems that if I were living in Canada, I could reasonably expect to be vaccinated several months sooner, in June.

Apart from the delay in securing vaccines, there have been some reactionary and nonsensical policies directed at South Korea's foreign population during the pandemic.

In an attempt to prevent a new outbreak in Seoul, which has by far the most cases in Korea, the city government has mandated that all foreign workers in that city be tested for COVID-19. It goes without saying that the virus does not discriminate between Koreans and foreigners, but apparently the city government of Seoul does.

The objective of the mandate is to prevent the spread of the virus amongst foreign factory workers who work and live in close quarters. I'm sure it's unnecessary to point out that Koreans in Seoul also work in factories, and are likewise situated in close working and living quarters - yet only the foreign workers are mandated to get tested. According to the Korea Herald, foreigners account for only 6.3% of all COVID-19 cases in Seoul.

This policy has been criticized as "lacking a scientific basis" and "impinging on the human rights" of the foreign population in Seoul, many of whom have lived in the country for years. The mandate was chastised by the foreign population, including the diplomatic missions and ambassadors from Britain and France, and there are early reports that the policy may be modified.

Likewise, I received a communication from the Canadian Embassy in Seoul about their response to the mandate, which they worried would further contribute to the "social stigmatization of foreigners in South Korea." Canadians in the Seoul area are advised to follow the mandate as it is, but the embassy is hopeful that the policy will be changed.

Dear Canadian citizen,

You are receiving this email because you are registered with the Government of Canada’s Registration of Canadians Abroad service. 

Mandatory PCR testing of foreigners working in Korea

You are all very aware that, in response to recent COVID-19 outbreaks, Korean authorities have implemented mandatory PCR testing of foreigners working in a number of provinces and municipalities.

Since first learning about these policies on March 8th, the Embassy has made numerous representations to the appropriate authorities in Korea, expressing our concerns and cautioning against measures that could contribute to the social stigmatization of the foreign community. We have adjusted the Travel Advisory to reflect any changes as they have been reported to us.

Specifically related to the administrative order issued in Seoul, recent commentary from a variety of sources has referenced the possibility of changes to these measures.  While further amendments may indeed occur, in an effort to increase clarity you will find attached an FAQ provided to the Embassy by Seoul City on March 18th.

Thankfully this policy does not apply to me as I live in Busan, but foreign English Teachers in Seoul are scrambling to get tested.

Last year, there was an outbreak in Itaewon in Seoul, an area with many foreign shops, restaurants, and nightclubs. Naturally, Itaewon is a popular destination for foreigners and Koreans alike. Upon word of the outbreak, there was a nation-wide mini panic targeted at foreigners. Employers needed to know if their foreign teachers had been to Itaewon during that timeframe. 

Itaewon is on the opposite side of the country, but I received calls and emails from my employer, after hours, urgently needing to know if I had been to Itaewon. It wasn't just that they "needed to know" if I had visited Itaewon, it was official business and I had to complete paperwork attesting to my movements and whereabouts. Korean teachers were not subjected to the same scrutiny even though they could've just as easily visited Itaewon.

Viewing foreigners as a single entity seems to be the default and often when the Koreans make policy, it is directed at "the foreigners" even if it doesn't make scientific or logical sense. They have it in their mind that foreigners are more responsible for this pandemic and are prone to irresponsible behaviour, even though there are ample examples of Korean misdeeds that have led to outbreaks (recall Churches violating social distancing rules and failing to provide information on their membership, making it more difficult to track and combat virus spread).

UPDATE:

Seoul has withdrawn the mandate to test all foreign workers because of criticism from "foreigners, medical workers, and the human rights commission." As often happens with these ridiculous, unjustifiable policies, there is some backtracking after sufficient uproar. However, it is only a matter of time before some Korean official gets nervous and decides, despite all evidence to the contrary, that "foreigners" are the problem and concocts a similar nonsensical response.