The transport ministry has revised aircraft safety guidelines that will take effect on Monday to better prevent the spread of coronavirus infections.

Planes used for domestic flights in South Korea will be disinfected at least once a day and after every flight for international routes.

Passengers who refuse to put on face masks at the request of cabin crew could be handed over to local police.

The ministry said the new rules were established based on advice from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Although no in-flight infections have been reported since the start of the pandemic, the ministry said it saw the need to revise guidelines due to the recent surge in new cases of COVID-19 across the country, including cases of the highly contagious Delta variant.