Quarantine In Korea: What To Expect

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we go about our daily lives and how we travel… or maybe don’t travel. Things are opening back up again and a lot of people are looking to travel to Korea. The government recently made an announcement that more people would not have to go through quarantine in Korea. That said, if you’re just coming here to travel, you didn’t quite make the cut yet.

Currently, the only people that won’t have to go through quarantine are residents and resident’s family members that have been vaccinated. If you’re a tourist looking to travel through, you’ll still have to go through the 2 week quarantine as it currently stands. Quarantine in Korea isn’t so bad though… or is it? Here’s what you’ll need to know.

Even though traveling is slowly becoming a regular thing again, remember that some countries have not fully reverted to any sense of normalcy. For that reason, you should be aware of all the hoops and loops you’ll have to jump through to even fly into any destination.

Arrival in Korea used to be pretty straightforward and all you needed to know was where you can find toilet paper or some such frivolous things now, today South Korea has some tight regulations on tourists entering its borders. Unlike some countries of the world, South Korea still requires face masks and social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. If you are anticipating arriving in Korea soon, there are a few things that you should know.

In this post, I will give you the ins and outs of the quarantine process here in South Korea because, well, I’ve already been through it. I can tell you what to expect when you quarantine in South Korea.

• Requirements
• What To Do Before You Get On The Plane
  • Agreement to Quarantine Forms
  • PCR Test
  • SIM Card
• Once You’re In Korea, What To Expect
  • Quarantine Stations At Incheon Airport
  • Leaving The Airport
  • Get A PCR Test In Korea
  • What To Do About Food
  • Other Suggested Items for Quarantine
  • Paying For The Hotel Quarantine
  • Finishing Your Quarantine

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)

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Requirements

Let’s start with the most important part, how do you even get into South Korea during the pandemic? Plan this before you even book your plane ticket. South Korea requires a mandatory 10-day quarantine (It was changed to 10 days as of November 2021) for most travelers to Korea.

If you are coming to teach in Korea or to work, your school should have all these details figured out; such as the quarantine facility, your food package, and the testing center. If you are traveling for other reasons, you have to cover the quarantine, which can cost up to $2,000.

What To Do Before You Get On The Plane

1. Agreement to quarantine forms.
   1. No matter what visa you are on. You have to fill out the quarantine form. That is unless you have special permission where you don’t have to quarantine.
   2. This form states that you will abide by the rules set in place by the Korean government. It will ask you if you have had COVID-related symptoms with the last 14-21 days, what countries you have visited, and your residence address (if you have one) in Korea. Be sure to fill this out and send it to the consulate when you get your visa issued.
2. PCR Test
   1. The Korean government requires all travelers to get a negative PCR (or RT-PCR) test within 72 hours of their departure. For example, if you fly to Korea on a Friday, you will need to take the test by Wednesday.
   2. My advice is to get the same-day PCR test. It’s more expensive than most. But I will say this whole thing is time-sensitive. If you don’t get it in time, it can screw up your travel arrangements.
   3. In the US, you can currently also get this requirement done at a Walgreens, CVS, or RiteAid quite easily.
   4. When you get your results, be sure to print them in English or Korean (both languages accepted according to the Korean government). You will need to show this when you board the plane. Failure to do this will result in you not getting on the plane.
3. SIM Card
   1. If you’re new to Korea or don’t have a number here, you will need one in order to actually do self-quarantine. You’ll need to check in daily and have a local number where your officer can get in touch. If you don’t have a phone, make sure to get a SIM Card from Incheon Airport.
   2. Trazy, linked above, has SIM Cards available for the duration and beyond and you can pick them up at the airport just after you go through the mandatory stations in the arrivals area. You just verify your local contact number and then head to the quarantine facility. Make sure to get unlimited data as you’ll have plenty of time to surf the web.

Once You’re In Korea, What To Expect

• Quarantine stations at Incheon airport
  • When you arrive at Incheon airport, you go through 3 stations before immigration.
    1. Station 1: This is where you get your temperature checked. Be sure to have your COVID test results and the yellow health form you filled out on the plane. If you have a temperature of 37.5 or higher, you have to go to another section that requires additional testing.
    2. Station 2: Download the app that tracks you during the mandatory 10-day quarantine. Officials at the airport will walk you through this process. You will fill out personal information (name, age, gender, etc.), address, and phone number so the Korean government can contact you.
    3. Station 3: After you fill out the information on the app, the health officials will verify your place of quarantine. For example, if you are an English teacher, they’ll call your schools director. Ensure that your friend, boss, husband, landlord, etc will be ready to answer the phone after your arrival so you can pass this station. If you’ll be in an Airbnb, make sure you have a SIMcard or a local phone as the officer will call you right there to ensure your phone rings in front of him/her. They will also show you how to use the app and what times to do your self-diagnosis check-in.
• Leaving The Airport
  • After the quarantine processing, you’ll go through immigration, baggage claim, and customs.
  • When you arrive as an international traveler in South Korea during COVID, you cannot use public transportation. Once you get out of the baggage claim, there will be another table where the workers will arrange transportation to your quarantine facility.
  • If you don’t have any Korean cash, the time to exchange in the airport is just after customs before you exit through the big double doors.
  • If you are staying at a government facility, you will be led to a bus that will take you there.
  • If you are going to another place to quarantine, you have the option of a COVID bus or taxi. If you are trying to save money, take the bus because taxis can cost up to W108,000 (around $100). Your place of business should reimburse you for this cost if you’re coming in as worker.

• Get A PCR Test In Korea
  • When you arrive at your apartment or hotel. You will have to take a PCR test at a health center in your area within 3 days of your arrival. You can book a private round-trip ride here to the nearest health center and back.
  • After you get the results for your PCR test, you cannot leave your apartment for those 10 days, which starts the day you arrive.
  • The health center in your area will contact you by the information you provided and an officer will keep track of you. That person will also tell you when your quarantine ends. They will bring you a paper bag with KF94 masks, hand sanitizer, trash bags, and a thermometer (to check your temperature twice a day).
• What To Do About Food
  • Food Might Be Provided: Depending on where you are in Korea, you will receive a government food package. If you are outside of Seoul, you will get something that includes basic things like rice, ramen, and other instance, non-perishable items that will tie you over for the next two weeks. Unfortunately, if you live in Seoul, they are no longer providing food packages. Instead, I have another option so that you don’t have to go hungry
  • Order Your Own Food: (Quarantine at a non-government facility)
    •  I know living off of takeout isn’t ideal for the stomach or the wallet. But, honestly, beggars can’t be choosers in such strict times. There are a few ways to get food delivered if you’re not in a government facility.
      • Trazy Food Delivery: Trazy offers a variety of services for those coming in to quarantine which includes grocery delivery, meal kit delivery, and direct from restaurant options as well. They also have Halal certified food delivery services too so they can meet a lot of needs.
      • Help Me Emo: Another service that will act as translator and basically a private concierge to get your food ordered and delivered. You can add them on Kakao and then converse with them about what you need easily. Send a message to place the order, he/she will ask you some questions then the food will be on the way.
      • Shuttle Delivery: This is a great option if you’re in one of their delivery areas. Shuttle specializes in delivering from some of the best foreign food establishments around. Just came in from abroad and need something to make you feel like home while you’re by yourself in quarantine? This is the best option for that.
      • iHerb: Not for groceries, but for more of your health needs, vitamins, shampoos, pet things, etc. iHerb is a great option that accepts foreign credit cards and does ship to Korea within a week. If you’re moving to Korea, it’s a good option to know about in general.
      • If you are quarantining alone, put your card in a bag and leave it at the door. That way it is a contactless service.
  • Food Suggestions at a Government Facility:
    • If you are doing your quarantine at a government facility the food will be provided for you. However, many people who have done the quarantine say that the food comes out cold. No one wants to eat cold packaged food for 10 days straight.
    • Here are the top recommendations from those that have been through quarantine one, two, and even three times!
      • Take a hotpot with you to heat up anything you want.
• You can also take an electric lunchbox to heat up your food.

With the electric cookware, it is small enough to stash in your suitcase. It will also save you during quarantine.

• Other Suggested Items for Quarantine:
  • Voltage Converter (Korea uses a 220V): Obviously if you are coming through with your own hotpot or electric lunchbox, you’ll want to bring a converter.
  • Pocket wifi: If you are quarantining at a government facility, the wifi at the hotels can be spotty at times.
  • Snacks: You’ll be getting food consistently, but if you want any of your own snacks, bring them in. As long as they’re packaged and haven’t been opened, you can bring them in. This is highly recommended if you want something a bit different from time to time.
  • Summertime clothes: Apparently some of the hotels do not allow you to open the windows, which means it will get quite stuffy.
  • Laptop
  • Books
• Paying for the Hotel Quarantine:
  • You will pay the costs of the hotel quarantine upfront rather than at the end. Please be aware of the payment methods you use. A lot of people suggest only using Visa, Mastercard, and, my preferred card, the American Express.
• Finishing Your Quarantine:
  • Trash: Your food trash will need to be put into designated food trash bags that will be delivered to you. So it won’t stink up the place, make sure to keep it in a freezer during the quarantine. All other trash should be put into the orange biohazard trash bag. Some districts say they’ll pick it up after you’ve finished quarantine, while others are letting people throw it out with the regular trash if you’ve tested negative throughout your stay.
  • Yes! You made it through 14-days of involuntary torture. Now you are free to explore everything South Korea has to offer. But, wait, not so fast. Before checking out of your quarantine, you have to go to the nearest health facility to take one more Covid tests and wait for those results.
  • Once you get your results from your health officer, you are good to go.

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The way that we travel has drastically changed in the past year. Hopefully this will help you figure out how quarantine in Korea is and what to expect. Good luck!

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