Gyeonggi Foreigner Problem? | SeoulPodcast #170

NOTES

Administrative Order for Corona 19 Diagnosis Test for Foreign Workers and Employers with Foreigners

https://www.gg.go.kr/bbs/boardView.do?bIdx=18300979&bsIdx=464&bcIdx=519&menuId=1535&isManager=true&isCharge=true&page=1&fbclid=IwAR3FGEW2hJKjOnpr6K1E6S0BBs7buk-rUprosnmy92tpET-DIwD9wWAkFYc

Background

COVID-19 clusters in factory dormitories in Namyangju

The Orders

The Problems

• Haphazard communication
• No clear lines if it’s all foreigners or foreigners working in certain industries
• Employers are responsible for communication, but workers bear brunt of punishment
• How do they know?
• Is this a public health strategy or a PR strategy?
• A history of image before substance — Appear to do something without actually doing something — It’s all for show
• Are they also testing Korean workers at those facilities?
• Are Korean family members of foreign workers required to be tested?
• Gyeonggi’s defense
• They have tested Coupang centers and churches, too
• Recent history of oopsies with foreigners this past year
• Free masks campaign
• Financial support campaign
• Each time they were brought to task, they used the excuse that they weren’t aware–that they didn’t mean to do it. And now they’ve done it again!
• The foreign community is uniquely sensitive to disease-related discrimination
• AIDS requirement that went to the Human Rights Council
• 2009 H1N1 Swine Flu
• News programs and articles about diseased foreigners
• Itaewon in May