On July 28, an email from the KAIST COVID-19 Task Force and ISSS informed international students of an update to the mandatory 14-day quarantine procedure for those reentering Korea. D-2 student visa holders can no longer use government quarantine facilities, but KAIST students are instead allowed to complete their self-isolation at a private quarantine facility in Seoul. The private facility — called RoomKor — was selected by the KAIST COVID-19 Task Force as suitable for international students.

Since March, all travelers arriving in Korea, including Korean nationals and long-term visa holders, have been required to undergo two-weeks of self-quarantine, which could be carried out either in government facilities or in personal residences. After the closure of KAIST’s Hwaam dormitory as an isolation facility in April, students with no outside residence were forced to use the government facilities or find a room to rent for the 14 days of self-isolation. This was at a high personal cost; the government facility increased in price from the initial total 1.4 million KRW to 2.1 million KRW for the two-week period, and alternative options such as Airbnb rentals remain expensive and difficult to secure. However, the government facilities stopped accepting D-2 student visa holders in July, once again causing difficulties and changes in plans for those planning to reenter. In response, the KAIST Task Force nominated the RoomKor private facility as a suitable alternative. It is also cheaper than the government accommodation, costing 90 USD per day for a single room with full amenities and meals provided. 

Prior to this update, KAIST’s dormitory policy regarding COVID-19 only allowed students to register for a dormitory room one month after their arrival in Korea. However, in the case of quarantining in the private facility, students will be allowed to enter the dormitory immediately after the 14 day isolation period. 

Students who are currently abroad and wish to return to Korea should contact ISSS for assistance with reentry and quarantine procedures.