Korea COVID Travel BlogGoing through immigration at an airport is rarely a straightforward and pleasant experience, but add in COVID and it’s another level. I had been briefed that we needed to download the “Korea Self Quarantine App” on my phone (although there were charging points and free wifi in the airport setup where you could download it there).
It’s probably worth mentioning here that in order for us to be put in accommodation provided by the shows producer for quarantine (instead of government accommodation) we have had to apply for specific VISAs, and the producers have had to apply for government permission to have the apartment complex they’ve rented designated as an official quarantine location.
After they have confirmed the app is loaded you then go through several sections, with each section filling in another batch of forms. Each form basically just asking your basic details and the address where you will be spending quarantine in a different order! One desk phones your Korean contact (the lovely Won) to check I am expected. It turns out I am and I move to the next desk!
At the final desk which is the actual immigration desk it turns out that despite writing the address of the quarantine building 10 times something is now wrong. Other members of the crew who arrived before me are already staying in the building so I know it’s just a formality and after a 45 minute wait in the integration room a phone call (from someone!) eventually confirms all is good and I’m in! And get a nice little yellow certificate to prove it!
I must say the whole process while frustrating with the excessive forms and delays was very thorough and well managed. There was no way they would let me into the country unless into a cleared quarantine venue with a working COVID app on my phone (more on that later). Wonder why they have so few cases and deaths??…
I find my bags waiting on the floor of baggage as i’ve clearly despite being one of the first off the plane been the last to leave after the extra checks, but makes them easy to find. I’m pleased to discover my slightly heavy (30kg) Peli case toolbox has survived intact!
Finally I meet up with Won and we jump in the quarantine transport van, which has been adapted with plastic shielding setup between Won, the driver and myself to head to the accommodation, which it turns out despite writing the address so many times I hadn’t realised is not near Seoul…
