<INFORMATION ABOUT SCREENING CENTERS IN KOREA>
Q: What is a screening center?
A: A screening center is a place to conduct the Covid-19 test on people suspected of Covid-19 or with a mechanical association. It is a separate medical facility outside the emergency room or in a medical institution, allowing people with suspected infectious diseases to receive medical treatment before entering the medical facility. It is distributed throughout the country, and there are also mobile screening centers.
Q: Where can we go to screening centers?
A: There are 25 screening centers in Seoul. The time that people can examine the Covid-19 test differs for every screening center. You can check the time on the website linked here. https://news.seoul.go.kr/welfare/archives/512553
Most of the screening centers are operating during weekdays and some of them are also operating on weekends. However, the operating time is different whether weekdays or weekends, so please check the time before you go. Furthermore, there is the disinfection time for safety tests in screening centers so that you cannot use them during that time. (Mostly 12 p.m - 1 p.m.)
Q: Who can visit screening centers?
A: Every citizen who doesn’t have any COVID-19 symptoms(fever, cough etc.) or didn’t contact with confirmed cases can visit temporary screening centers. Basically, foreigners are also available, but we recommend calling ‘Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention call center(1339)’ to ask whether it is possible or not. Those who have symptoms or epidemiologically related to the virus should first call the public health center or 1339. After that, they get to have a test at a public health center or screening center.
Q: How much will it cost to go to the screening center?
A: To prevent the possibility of collective infection of Covid-19 and to resolve blind spots as an inclusive quarantine measure, foreigners can get free covid-19 tests. If you are treated at a medical institution related to Covid-19, we will not notify the immigration or foreign government offices so that you do not worry about your visa.
1) A person suspected of Covid-19 including unknown causes of pneumonia according to doctor's opinion
2) A person with a history of visiting abroad and has experienced a fever of 37.5℃ or higher or respiratory symptoms (cough, difficulty of breathing, etc.) within 14 days after entering Korea
3) Those who have a mechanical connection with the outbreak of coronavirus sensitization-19 in Korea and have developed fever or respiratory symptoms within 14 days
If you are included in the cases above, no cost will be incurred regardless of nationality or residence qualification.
Q: Where are screening centers?
A: As of February 18, 2021, there were 621 screening clinics across the country. Screening centers are usually operated by health centers, hospitals, and medical centers. There are also 39 auto-mobile screening centers in hospitals and health centers across the country. As Covid-19 has become more serious, not only permanent but also temporary screening centers are operating. Temporary screening centers are usually located in public places such as subway stations, parks, squares, and district offices.
The location of screening centers can be easily identified through '정부24'('Government 24').
After accessing "정부 24(https://www.gov.kr)", you can search for a list of selected clinics in the desired area and a map to check the location of the clinic through a banner at the top of the website.
Alternatively, you can find the location of the clinic by searching for the "코로나19 선별진료소-보건복지부(Covid-19 Screening Centers - Ministry of Health and Welfare)" on portals such as Naver and Google.
The site address is " https://www.mohw.go.kr/react/popup_200128_3.html ".
Q: Except for screening centers, is there any other center or hospital where we, as non-suspected patients, can have a Covid-19 test?
A: You can go to certain hospitals which are upload on the website: https://www.mohw.go.kr/react/popup_200128.html
You can search the nearest hospital that operates the test by visiting the website. For instance, you can search some keywords like city, region, name of the hospital, phone number in Korean. Before visiting the hospital, it is better to call 1339 to ask for information such as operating hours, expenses, and whether the hospital(or center) operates the test for foreigners or not.
As a rule, foreigners can have the test in health centers/screening centers. In the case of medical institutions, however, there would be some individual guidelines that the medical institution has. So, once again, it is important to call 1339 before visiting.
<INFORMATION ABOUT SCREENING CENTERS IN KOREA>
Q: What is a screening center?
A: A screening center is a place to conduct the Covid-19 test on people suspected of Covid-19 or with a mechanical association. It is a separate medical facility outside the emergency room or in a medical institution, allowing people with suspected infectious diseases to receive medical treatment before entering the medical facility. It is distributed throughout the country, and there are also mobile screening centers.
Q: Where can we go to screening centers?
A: There are 25 screening centers in Seoul. The time that people can examine the Covid-19 test differs for every screening center. You can check the time on the website linked here. https://news.seoul.go.kr/welfare/archives/512553
Most of the screening centers are operating during weekdays and some of them are also operating on weekends. However, the operating time is different whether weekdays or weekends, so please check the time before you go. Furthermore, there is the disinfection time for safety tests in screening centers so that you cannot use them during that time. (Mostly 12 p.m - 1 p.m.)
Q: Who can visit screening centers?
A: Every citizen who doesn’t have any COVID-19 symptoms(fever, cough etc.) or didn’t contact with confirmed cases can visit temporary screening centers. Basically, foreigners are also available, but we recommend calling ‘Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention call center(1339)’ to ask whether it is possible or not. Those who have symptoms or epidemiologically related to the virus should first call the public health center or 1339. After that, they get to have a test at a public health center or screening center.
Q: How much will it cost to go to the screening center?
A: To prevent the possibility of collective infection of Covid-19 and to resolve blind spots as an inclusive quarantine measure, foreigners can get free covid-19 tests. If you are treated at a medical institution related to Covid-19, we will not notify the immigration or foreign government offices so that you do not worry about your visa.
1) A person suspected of Covid-19 including unknown causes of pneumonia according to doctor's opinion
2) A person with a history of visiting abroad and has experienced a fever of 37.5℃ or higher or respiratory symptoms (cough, difficulty of breathing, etc.) within 14 days after entering Korea
3) Those who have a mechanical connection with the outbreak of coronavirus sensitization-19 in Korea and have developed fever or respiratory symptoms within 14 days
If you are included in the cases above, no cost will be incurred regardless of nationality or residence qualification.
Q: Where are screening centers?
A: As of February 18, 2021, there were 621 screening clinics across the country. Screening centers are usually operated by health centers, hospitals, and medical centers. There are also 39 auto-mobile screening centers in hospitals and health centers across the country. As Covid-19 has become more serious, not only permanent but also temporary screening centers are operating. Temporary screening centers are usually located in public places such as subway stations, parks, squares, and district offices.
The location of screening centers can be easily identified through '정부24'('Government 24').
After accessing "정부 24(https://www.gov.kr)", you can search for a list of selected clinics in the desired area and a map to check the location of the clinic through a banner at the top of the website.
Alternatively, you can find the location of the clinic by searching for the "코로나19 선별진료소-보건복지부(Covid-19 Screening Centers - Ministry of Health and Welfare)" on portals such as Naver and Google.
The site address is " https://www.mohw.go.kr/react/popup_200128_3.html ".
Q: Except for screening centers, is there any other center or hospital where we, as non-suspected patients, can have a Covid-19 test?
A: You can go to certain hospitals which are upload on the website: https://www.mohw.go.kr/react/popup_200128.html
You can search the nearest hospital that operates the test by visiting the website. For instance, you can search some keywords like city, region, name of the hospital, phone number in Korean. Before visiting the hospital, it is better to call 1339 to ask for information such as operating hours, expenses, and whether the hospital(or center) operates the test for foreigners or not.
As a rule, foreigners can have the test in health centers/screening centers. In the case of medical institutions, however, there would be some individual guidelines that the medical institution has. So, once again, it is important to call 1339 before visiting.