This article has been updated on March 13, 2020.

KAIST’s spring semester courses will be conducted online until further notice, according to an announcement on Thursday. The semester was previously postponed by two weeks, with an additional two-week period of online courses. Now, the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the increasing number of infections, has triggered an emergency meeting for the current semester. Held on March 12, the meeting, which included Vice Presidents, Deans, and Associate Vice Presidents, concluded with the decision to extend the online courses indefinitely. 

Consequently, dormitory move-ins have also been affected. Previously, students were able to postpone dormitory move-ins until the end of the online lecture period, to March 27 - 29. However, due to the indefinite extension of the online courses as well as the efforts to prevent further physical contact in large groups of people, dormitory move-in has been prohibited unless special reasons are provided. These reasons include not having a residence in Korea, residing in the affected regions (Daegu, Cheongdo, Gyeongsan), or other reasons approved by the Student Life Team (the application process for remaining due to these reasons will be announced on March 16). While it is strongly recommended for students to move out, those who are accepted to remain will be able to use their original rooms. Those who are rejected must move out by March 23.

International students who are currently overseas are strongly recommended to remain there due to the scale of the pandemic and high number of infections in Korea. Those who choose to return will be asked to conduct self-isolation in Hwaam if coming from China, Macao, Japan, Italy, Iran, France, Germany, Spain, the UK, or the Netherlands (countries subject to self-isolation might change at a further date) or self-monitoring in their dorms otherwise. 

Those who choose to move out will be refunded the dormitory fee for the whole semester. Moving fees through delivery and boxes will be provided and students will be able to leave their belongings in their rooms. It is not recommended to store valuable belongings as the owner will be responsible for any losses or damages. Furthermore, storing computers, small home appliances, and liquids will be prohibited. Buses by region will also be provided for students returning home on March 18 and 20 at 4 p.m. in front of the KAIST Auditorium (more information provided in the KAIST Portal notices).

Online courses will continue until the COVID-19 situation has calmed down and a notice will be given at least two weeks before the start of normal courses for students to move-in. Dormitory fees for those who move-in during this period will be calculated according to the remaining semester duration.