It's been about seven weeks since the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in Korea on Jan. 20, and now the number of cases is jumping by a few hundred every day. Concerns over the contagious disease have penetrated daily life, affecting people in different corners of the country.
As the government encourages people to take part in "social distancing" efforts to halt the spread of the virus, I'm also refraining from going out except for when it is absolutely necessary [1, 2]. Whenever I hesitantly go grocery shopping, I see unusually deserted streets [3]. There is far less foot traffic in the neighborhood compared with two months ago. 100% of people out there are wearing masks. Coughing and sneezing in public space have started to invite suspicious stares from others.
With many people staying home, it is rare to see the infamous traffic jams in Seoul and neighboring urban areas. Buses and subways are still running, but they are sparsely used because the fear of being infected is prevailing among the population. People prefer using taxis or their cars over public transportation.
Commercial districts and shopping malls are empty, and the owners of small businesses are struggling to make ends meet. Some local stores are closed, and employees in the shops that are still open are universally masked. My friend who owns local restaurants told me that seeing empty tables, even on weekends, is worrying him. He is trying to draw in customers, highlighting the restaurant staff's efforts to make the places virus-free.
Thankfully, there's been no panic buying yet. It seems to me that life goes on as usual, only more quietly. However, grocery stores are limiting the number of purchases for each customer to prevent possible panic buying. A lot of products are still on the shelves. There has only been a shortage of face masks.
Health authorities are advising everyone to change into a new mask every day, but it's hard to get masks. Prices of face masks skyrocketed even before the sudden surge of COVID-19 hit South Korea because Chinese brokers had begun stockpiling made-in-Korea face masks back in mid-January. (The government is criticized for not having stockpiled masks for its citizens.) Also, some suppliers canceled orders and raised the prices of masks to profiteer. Such actions were soon prohibited, but by then, supplies were already depleted. People had to visit several stores or wait in line for a few hours to buy masks. Many people returned home with nothing. The government enforced new purchasing rules on March 9 to resolve the supply shortage and ensure fair distribution. People are now permitted to buy only two masks per week from pharmacies, on designated days of the week, depending on the final number of their year of birth. However, uninsured foreigners have no chance because the current distribution system requires registration card and national health insurance [4].
Public events and social gatherings are mostly canceled or postponed. Public campaigns urge people to keep their distance from each other, discouraging any form of in-person meeting [5]. Even religious services have ceased. Some churches are holding their services over the internet.
Most coronavirus cases in Korea are not leading to serious health problems, so many people aren't afraid of the disease itself. I'm not afraid of the new coronavirus, either. However, Koreans now dread social stigma. Safety guidance texts sent by the authorities contain a lot of personal information of confirmed patients, such as where they had been, even though the patients' names are not revealed. Some people connect the dots and figure out who the patients are. Even if the patients are not identified, they soon become the target of malicious comments online. People judge their private lives and blame them for spreading the virus. Occasionally, the wrong person is attacked. It scares me because anyone can be a victim. Also, the possibility that I may spread the virus to my friends or loved ones before developing symptoms concerns me. Those two reasons have been keeping me at home.
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| Safety guidance texts sent by authorities |
As the outbreak in the country continues, many Koreans are not only trying to prevent the disease but also fight off boredom. I've often been frustrated by having to stay home and not being able to meet with people. From time to time, I've felt a strong need to have date nights outside my house and go to a mall, a cafe, or some nice place. Last weekend, I couldn't bear it anymore, so I got out of the house just to go somewhere else. I went to a nearby park to get some fresh air and sunlight. It was the only available option for me to alleviate my frustration. It's unlikely to get the virus in the open air, simply because you're around fewer people, and any virus particles will be instantly dispersed by wind before they get to you. In contrast to the deserted streets downtown, the park was relatively crowded. People there seemed to be of one mind: "Damn coronavirus. I'm bored to death."
Schools and kindergartens are closed, so many children are forced to stay home. However, they can hardly bear the boredom and never stay still indoors. Parents are having a hard time taking care of their children, and the problem doesn't end there. According to a report by Korea Environment Corporation, complaints about noisy neighbors have soared after the coronavirus outbreak [6]. Children trapped at home are thought as one of the major causes. I'm also going through a tough time since the kids in the apartment upstairs have been running, stomping, and creating a cacophony lately by banging around on their piano.
The new coronavirus outbreak has even led to drastic changes in Korea's workplace culture, albeit temporarily. Normally, Korea's corporate culture deems working while sick a virtue, a symbol of responsibility. People are expected to come into work even if they are sick. Only 7.3% of companies in Korea ensure that employees can take paid sick leave [7]. A sick day is often frowned upon even in those companies, and moderate illnesses aren't typically accepted as an excuse. Recently, it has taken this serious epidemic to force some change. Anyone with a fever or flu-like symptoms is advised to work from home. Some companies are allowing flexible working hours. Others have completely switched to a remote work system.
I became jealous of my friend who began working from home. His company has begun to allow employees to telecommute on a rotating basis, so I commented, "Every cloud has a silver lining, huh?" He answered, "Are you joking?" As the company is extremely anxious about the potential financial loss resulting from the in-house outbreak, he was told that any person diagnosed with coronavirus during this temporary period wouldn't get paid. It means that they will be regarded as having neglected work to enjoy free time outside the home. It was so ridiculous that I couldn't believe it, but his company isn't the only one taking such an absurd stance. Similar cases have been reported by major news media. A company faced public criticism after sending text messages to employees threatening that that the company would take disciplinary action against anyone who tested positive [8]. Some companies are requiring employees to stay home and report where they visit if they go out on weekends [9].
Our daily lives are distorted, and unexpected disorder and absurdities are popping up here and there. However, the ruling party and supporters of the government seem to be taking those things lightly and taking pride in the fact that news media overseas have covered South Korea's transparent approach to combating the outbreak [10, 11]. Only after the spread of the virus ends will society be able to fully assess whether or not the governmental actions were effective and appropriate. In fact, the problems with our country's response are also being pointed out by foreign press [12, 13]. No matter how much the Moon government is taking comfort in receiving compliments overseas, it is an irrefutable fact that the number of patients is growing every day and we don't have any game-changing solution. On the other hand, opposition politicians are lashing out at the government's decisions without providing better solutions. I'm hoping that the two parties will cooperate and do something more to tackle all matters, great and small.
This was written on March 9, 2020 and edited on March 14, 2020
[1] Seoul Tries 'Social Distancing' to Prevent Coronavirus Spread' - VOA News (https://www.voanews.com/science-health/coronavirus-outbreak/seoul-tries-social-distancing-prevent-coronavirus-spread)
[2] What is "social distancing," and how can it slow the coronavirus outbreak? - Vox (https://www.vox.com/2020/3/3/21161232/coronavirus-usa-quarantine-isolation-social-distancing)
[3] Coronavirus fears empty streets in some of the world's busiest cities - NBC News(https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/coronavirus-fears-empty-streets-some-world-s-busiest-cities-n1147806)
[4] 5-day rotation mask distribution system unfavorable to foreigners - Arirang News (http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=254163)
[4] 서울시 사회적 거리두기 캠페인 (https://www.facebook.com/154343061286214/posts/2739012879485873)
[5] 층간소음분쟁 80% 폭증…코로나 공포에 '집콕' 때문? - KBS News ( http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=4389603)
[6] 7.3%만 '유급병가' 보장한다 - 한겨레21 (http://h21.hani.co.kr/arti/cover/cover_general/47010.html)
[7] "코로나 걸리면 엄중 문책" 전직원에 이런 문자 보낸 경남은행 - 중앙일보 (https://news.joins.com/article/23718741)
[8] "주말에 뭐했나" 보고받는 기업들... '코로나 감염 땐 징계' 협박도 - 서울신문 (https://www.seoul.co.kr/news/newsView.php?id=20200304022009)
[9] In Coronavirus Crisis, Korean City Tries Openness, a Contrast to China - The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/25/world/asia/daegu-south-korea-coronavirus.html)
[10] How South Korea's Coronavirus Outbreak Got out of Control - Time (https://time.com/5789596/south-korea-coronavirus-outbreak)
[11] Coronavirus privacy: Are South Korea's alearts too revealing? - BBC News (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51733145)
[12] 'More scary than coronavirus': South Korean's health alearts expose private lives - The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/06/more-scary-than-coronavirus-south-koreas-health-alerts-expose-private-lives)
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