Questions/Answers

The city of Boryeong began the “Boryeong-style K-Quarantine Model” in the summer holiday period of the COVID-19 pandemic’s first year amid concerns that, if quarantining was not done successfully in its major tourist sites, its residents would be subject to possibly fatal damages. The initiative was comprised of three stages. The first stage was the operation of information centers (at the entrance of major tourist sites) for the sticker, which changes into one of three colors depending on the wearer’s body temperature. The centers encouraged tourists to voluntarily check their temperature, with those discovered to have a fever directed to a nearby testing center or their place of residence. The second stage was quarantining through drone/GPS-based AI robots. Drone performed the following tasks on weekdays: (daytime) broadcasting announcements on personal hygiene/sanitation rules and social distancing, (night) displaying quarantine-related campaigns via LED, and (dawn) sanitation measures at public facilities. The AI robots were stationed at tourist sites, where they measured tourists’ temperatures, checked for mask wearing, and played announcements on social distancing. The third stage was a public-private cooperative system in which Chungcheongnam-do Office, Boryeong City Hall, Chungcheongnam-do Tourism Association, and Chungcheongnam-do Merchants’ Association held regular meetings on COVID-19 response. Other efforts included Safe Business registration and voluntary facility sanitation by CMA members after business hours. Boryeong also provided epidemiological materials, in the event of confirmed COVID-19 cases, in a timely manner to establish a system that minimizes damages to both the individual and local communities

Once the number of confirmed cases began rising, Boryeong anticipated the closing of major tourist sites, including Daecheon Beach, due to fortified social distancing and the significant (or irreparable) financial and health damage that would be suffered by the local economy and individuals. This realization prompted the city to implement a “K-quarantine” model to achieve the third SDG and do its utmost to alleviate the circumstances caused by the pandemic.

The initiative is related to the third SDG. By promoting the need to wear masks and practice social distancing to prevent COVID-19 and operating sticker distribution centers at the entrance of tourist attractions, citizens/tourists could monitor body temperature changes for 48 hours. All businesses and tourist information centers near an attraction were given stickers to create an environment that guaranteed easy access. Drones and AI robots were used to regularly sanitize public locations, and a “beach traffic light” system was operated on major portal sites to avoid over-concentration of tourists at certain beaches. In addition to preventative efforts (instruction on/operation of social distancing, joint institutional on-site monitoring of gatherings to ensure following of social distancing guidelines, etc.), Boryeong strived to guarantee citizens’ health by hosting public-private COVID-19 response meetings and encouraging the private sector to voluntarily police itself, such as the Safe Business system and sanitation of CMA businesses after business hours.

The advent of the “with COVID-19” era signaled the need to shift the initiative’s focus from quarantining to coexistence with daily life. To convey a message of hope for overcoming COVID-19 while keeping social distancing rules and conducting international events safely, Boryeong hosted several marine leisure events, including a kiteboarding parade, drone performances, and stand-up paddle board experience for low-income families, to enhance welfare benefits and healthy lifestyles. The system that was created to safely attract tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic can be used to revitalize the local economy as well as respond to similar future epidemics.

Sticker & temperature-taking stations were installed at all major tourist sites to measure the body temperature of all tourists. Those discovered to have a fever were instructed to return home or go to a nearby testing center. By preventing COVID-19 infection (stage 1), following personal hygiene rules and socially distancing (stage 2), and engaging voluntarily in sanitation activities through public-private cooperation (stage 3), efforts were made to respond quickly and accurately (e.g. self-isolation of those who came in close contact with a confirmed case, providing widespread testing) to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Efforts were made to prevent gender discrimination when hiring staff to operate the stations. In 2020, 500 employees were hired (male: 295, female: 205), with 170 (male: 84, female: 86) hired in 2021. Efforts continued to be made after hiring to ensure a balance of male and female workers.

The initiative targeted Boryeong residents and tourists to major attractions. As a designated marine tourism city, Boryeong did its utmost through K-quarantine measures to prevent the escalation of COVID-19 and guarantee residents’ health to avoid the self-destructive cycle (local economic recession → fewer jobs → population exit → collapse of local society) caused by the collapse of the tourism industry. By creating an environment to safely enjoy the city’s attractions through the three-stage quarantining process, Boryeong was able to boost its economy and allow citizens and tourists to alleviate their “corona blues” through the influx of tourists.

The initiative was designed to restore Boryeong’s reputation, amid the pandemic, as a top city of marine leisure and tourism and solidify peoples’ perception of the city as a place they wish to revisit. Response was done through a cooperative system that included Boryeong City Hall, related institutions, and civic groups. The Boryeong-style K-Quarantine Model was concretely realized as a three-stage process (temperature check via sticker → social distancing → public-private cooperation on quarantining). The initiative was funded by a KRW 2.1 billion budget and made up of eight stations and a total of 203 workers. Much of the quarantine activities undertaken were done with the cooperation of private groups: patrol teams were created with the local youth association to ensure on-site adherence to social distancing, while merchants cooperated with preventing entry by those not wearing stickers and sanitizing their businesses after hours. Each October, all stakeholders participated in a meeting to assess the year’s outcomes and develop ways to incorporate them to the following year’s implementations.

The operation of temperature sticker stations along roads near major tourist attractions, which are visited by millions of tourists each year, resulted in problems related to workers’ safety and traffic congestion. In response, speed bumps and safety bars were installed on such roads, and a car pass system was operated for local residents and vehicles that pass through Boryeong regularly. These measures alleviated traffic congestion as well as complaints from local residents.

The temperature sticker system, which Boryeong was the first Korean city to implement, became a leading practice in Korea’s quarantining system (e.g. included in quarantine regulations issued by Ministry of Oceans & Fisheries). It strengthened the democratic and voluntary nature of government quarantine regulations as a bi-directional method that avoided the limitations of the one-time check system and allowed individuals to monitor their own body temperature for up to 48 hours. The use of drones and GPS-based AI robots, with the latter shaped like cartoon characters, served as an attraction in and of themselves that also encouraged tourists to voluntarily participate in quarantine activities.

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Diverse systems were put into place at tourist attractions that utilized drones and GPS-based AI robots. The drones effectively conveyed to tourists the need to quarantine through COVID-19 quarantine PR during the day and LED campaign banners by night. The AI robots not only made on-site inspections, real-time body temperature checks, announcements reminding un-masked people to put on a mask, and social distancing advertisements but also photo opportunities and as their own attraction for tourists to interact with.

After it was first implemented at Daecheon Beach, the temperature sticker system was included in the quarantine regulations issued by the Ministry of Oceans & Fisheries, resulting in sticker use at Haeundae Beach (Korea’s largest beach) and 25 other beaches in six cities/provinces in Korea other than Chungcheongnam-do (Gangwon-do, Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, Ulsan, Jeju-do, etc.).

The biggest advantage of the temperature sticker is that body temperature can be monitored by oneself and a third party for 48 hours for a low price (USD 0.1). It can also be easily applied anywhere in the world due to its small size and color-based distinction.

The 2020-2021 budget for the operation of temperature sticker stations was USD 4,630,000. This budget was used to employ 670 staff and operate 11 stations. USD 2,274,000 was used for labor costs, USD 505,000 for station installation, and USD 1,179,000 for the purchase of supplies.

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Yes

The initiative was evaluated by Dr. Seong Cho, associate research fellow of ChungNam Institute’s Chungnam Disaster Safety Research Center whose area of focus is disaster/safety policy and the disaster resilience of local communities. Assessment was based on quantitative/qualitative outcomes and the efficacy of side effects through a comprehensive consideration of disease prevention (Boryeong’s quarantine activities per year in terms of budget, current status, and overall outcomes) and strengthening of resilience (tourist convenience, local cooperative relations, etc.).

Assessment was based on consideration of multiple factors, including management of quarantine activities, safety, environment, and costs; accessibility by and value for those lacking transportation means; and the user satisfaction survey. Goal achievement was assessed through 1) checklists on encouraging voluntary management in the private sector and 2) municipal efforts to prevent infection in public facilities. Quantitative indices were used as follows: number of outside tourists, progression in confirmed cases, personnel employed for quarantining, and number of jobs created.

The initiative was implemented through the operation of eight stations (major roads, train stations, bus terminals, etc.) with minimal personnel and budget. In both 2020 and 2021, not a single confirmed case occurred at Daecheon Beach for the entirety of its operation. In 2021, Daecheon Beach was designated as an Outstanding Beach by the Ministry of Oceans & Fisheries and gained a score of 62.47 (out of 100) on its user satisfaction survey. (This score is rising.) The temperature sticker system is a leading beach quarantine practice in Korea, having already been recognized through the Best Practice award from Chungcheongnam-do Office and being included in the Ministry of Oceans & Fisheries’ quarantine regulations. The public-private cooperative system also played a large role in improving COVID-19 responsiveness, such as through the registration of 263 local businesses in the Safe Business program to encourage voluntary adherence to quarantine rules, creation of a merchant-led self-quarantining system, and independently-operated on-site patrols.

Boryeong has two of Chungcheongnam-do’s 33 registered beaches (Boryeong: 2, Taean: 28, Seocheon: 1, Danjin: 2). Boryeong’s temperature sticker system, which was included in the quarantine regulations of the Ministry of Oceans & Fisheries, is operated through this initiative with KRW 400 million in central government funds and KRW 400 million from Chungcheongnam-do Office.

Stage 1 of this initiative, the operation of stations, was funded through the cooperation of the Ministry of Oceans & Fisheries, Chungcheongnam-do Office, and Boryeong. Stage 2, fortified social distancing, was participated in by the local youth association and other local organizations, while Stage 3 (creation of a public-private cooperative system) was made up largely by voluntary efforts by local merchants (creation of on-site patrol teams, sanitizing of business sites after hours). In the event of a confirmed case, Boryeong provided the KCDC and related departments with epidemiological data to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. The assessment of the initiative was done by ChungNam Institute, with the initiative’s outcomes assessed by all related institutions/organizations in Chungcheongnam-do.

This initiative made it clear that the most effective way of preventing the escalation of COVID-19 is a voluntary desire to participate, both at the individual and institutional levels, in sanitation/quarantine activities While all central and local governments are doing their best to address the pandemic, it is impossible for any country to overcome COVID-19 without the active participation of (and willingness to make sacrifices) by its citizenry. The temperature stickers are affected by external factors. A future development that is very necessary is to make the stickers able to measure accurately even if there is contact with water.