Kyungpook National University (KNU) provided one of its dormitories to serve as a COVID-19 residential care center for four weeks.
On March 7, Daegu Metropolitan City had recorded more than 5,000 confirmed cases, 1,949 patients were admitted to hospital and 952 were sent to a residential care center located at the Central Education Training Center. In addition, more than 2,000 confirmed victims were waiting for hospital rooms from home, some of whom died before they were admitted to a hospital. On March 8, Kyungpook National University informed the public of this fact in a statement issued by President Kim Sang- Dong and vowed to provide a residential care center in response to the request by the Daegu Metropolitan Government.
“I had to be very careful because it was a matter directly related to the safety of staff members and KNU students’ right to study,” Dr. Kim, president of the university, said in the statement. “We have come to the conclusion that if the COVID-19 situation is not normalized, it will not be possible for Kyungpook National University to fulfill its educational calling.“
The Cheomseonggwan Dormitory provided by Kyungpook National University as a care center is a dormitory normally used by undergraduate, graduate, and foreign students. It has a total of 681 rooms, one basement floor, and nine floors above ground. During the normal semester, it offers double rooms for two students, and about 1,362 students call it home.