"Masked Them, But..." Parents Anxious on the Way to School

Elementary Schools Reopen with Thermometers and Hand Sanitizers Prepared
Dual-Income Couples Had Hoped for School Closures but Have Nowhere to Send Their Children

On the 3rd, amid growing concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, Principal Hansang Yoon of Bongeun Elementary School in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, is checking the temperature of students arriving at school. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-gi] On the first day of school, elementary students entered the school gates in small groups. At 7:40 a.m. on the 3rd, the children met at Bongeun Elementary School in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, were almost all wearing masks. Principal Han Sang-yoon and teachers waited for the children at the main gate. Instead of the long-awaited hugs or smiles, what greeted the children first were thermometers and hand sanitizers. Sixth grader Jeong Seung-hwan said, "There are plenty of masks at home, but I didn't bring one," as he put on the mask handed by the teacher and entered the classroom.

Amid growing concerns about the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), the scene on the first day of school showed and sounded more worry than joy. Sixth grader Choi Jeong-yoon said, "My parents told me to always wear a mask and not to take it off in crowded places," adding, "It's uncomfortable, but I don't plan to take it off," speaking maturely. Kim Su-jeong (49, female), a member of the Green Mothers' Association who helps students get to school, also said, "I'm very worried because of the novel coronavirus," and added, "I told my second-grade son not to go to crowded places, but he can't skip school, so I repeatedly told him never to take off his mask."

Kim Oe-seon (65, female), who has a second-grade granddaughter, said, "It was recently revealed late that a friend who had been to China attended the kindergarten my second granddaughter goes to, causing a commotion with vehicle disinfection and so on," and expressed concern, "I'm worried whether hygiene management at school will be properly carried out."

While there is a desire for the school to officially postpone the start of school or close temporarily, even that faces practical concerns. For working parents, a major problem if the start of school is postponed is that there is no specific place to send their children. Parent Yoo Chung-yeol (43) said, "Stopping entrants coming from China should come first." Lee (35), who has a third-grade daughter, also said, "I was worried about sending my child to school after the start of school, but I just hope the school will take good responsibility for hygiene issues."

On the same day, Seoul Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon, who conducted an on-site inspection at Bongeun Elementary School, focused on reassuring parents. He said, "The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other related departments are doing their best in their respective positions, and the education office is consulting frequently," adding, "The Ministry of Education is considering flexible operation measures regarding school closure."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.