K-Quarantine () is a term introduced in 2020 to describe the strategy used by Republic of Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic to limit the spread of the virus, including a quarantine system, outreach campaigns, testing, and contact tracing. The term "K-quarantine" was first introduced by the South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Initial surge
South Korea's first COVID-19 case was confirmed on January 20, 2020: A 35-year-old Chinese woman who had traveled from Wuhan, China through Incheon International Airport was confirmed positive. The patient was immediately quarantined at Incheon Medical Center, and the city activated its countermeasures, including opening a screening clinic and designating a health official to manage the patient's direct contacts.
By February 24, an outbreak at the Shincheonji Daegu Church caused the government to declare a "severe" crisis stage. By the 27th, South Korea was ranked second in the world for confirmed cases and countries around the world began banning or restricting Korean travelers and instituting travel warnings.
Efforts of Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
With support from President Moon Jae-in, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency worked to prevent the spread of the disease, conducting daily briefings and creating a system to track South Korean cases in real time.
Quarantine
South Korea's advanced quarantine system was initially implemented by Prime Minister Goh Kun during the SARS epidemic, when he acted as a "prevention control tower", was re-implemented.
In March 2020, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases began to decrease and many South Koreans continued to wear masks and remain at home. According to Na Baek-ju, the quarantine control officer at the Seoul Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, new cases in Seoul experienced a decrease for several reasons: Careful inspection of travelers into South Korea; general community self-isolation; and social distancing.
By late April, daily case numbers were decreasing. The identification and management of "quarantine blind spots" began in earnest, drawing health department attention to group such as undocumented residents and people experiencing homelessness who would struggle to isolate.
At a speech on the third anniversary of his inauguration, President Moon said "K quarantine has become the world standard. Korea's national stature and national pride have grown more than ever. It is the power of the people who unfortunately demonstrated the dedication of the quarantine authorities and medical staff, the voluntary participation of numerous volunteers, and the spirit of solidarity and cooperation. We have securely defended the quarantine front with the power of the people and have won the war against the virus. As the domestic situation enters the stabilization stage, it has transformed into a new daily life where quarantine and daily life coexist."
However, cases soon began to rise and government efforts to balance economic recovery and virus containment led Moon to declare the quarantine system to be "faced with a crisis." The relaxing of regulations during the summer in an effort to stimulate the economy, as well as increasing anti-government sentiments, led Moon to again ban church gatherings and large outdoor events.
Outreach campaigns
Healthcare worker appreciation
Medical staff worked around the clock, isolating from their families overnight and during the holidays. Personal protective equipment, including masks, was a job requirement through the summer. In surveys conducted in October and November, higher than average numbers of healthcare workers were experiencing significant levels of depression. During April and May, expressions of gratitude toward medical staff began online and spread throughout South Korea. The "thank-you challenge" eventually included President Moon Jae-in, (BTS, Kim Yu-na, Park Na-rae, Lee Hyo-ri, and other celebrities.
Testing & tracing
Drive-through testing
On February 23, 2020, South Korea developed the world's first drive-through COVID-19 testing sites, which were initially conceived by Kim Jin-yong, director of infectious medicine at Incheon Medical Center, and installed at Chilgok Kyungpook National University Hospital. At a drive-through test site at Daegu Yeungnam University Hospital, staff were able to complete reception, examination, temperature measurement, sample collection from nose and mouth, and disinfection in 5–10 minutes per vehicle.