[Report] Measures Fueling Mask Refugees?...Confusion Everywhere on First Day of 5-Day Mask System: "When Can We Buy?"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] "Do I have to wait until Thursday to buy a mask?"

On the first day of the implementation of the '5-day mask purchase system,' there was a continuous flow of people in front of pharmacies trying to buy public masks. In some cases, due to insufficient information about the 5-day system, people returned empty-handed without getting masks or were seen arguing with pharmacists.

In front of a pharmacy in Deungchon-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on the 9th, Kim Gyu-seon (76, female) arrived at 8:30 a.m. and stood first in line. However, when the pharmacy opened and she tried to buy a mask, she was told she was not eligible to purchase. That day, people whose birth year’s last digit was 1 or 6, such as those born in 1941 or 1996, were eligible to buy masks. But Kim was born in 1944. She felt unfair and said, "Isn't it enough if the first digit of the resident registration number ends with 1?" and turned away.

On the day the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread and the first-ever '5-day mask purchase system' was implemented, a battle to secure even one more mask broke out at major sales points nationwide. Elderly people who were not eligible waited in vain and left, and some who did not receive numbered tickets after the stock was replenished were also noticeable. A pharmacy staff member said, "Even if you line up on the main road, you might not be able to register," and advised customers, "It might be easier to secure masks at small pharmacies in alleys," sending some away.

The situation was similar at a pharmacy near Hanyang University Hospital in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. This pharmacy had only 250 masks (enough for 125 people) available that day, and since the stock was expected to arrive in the afternoon, they distributed numbered tickets to the citizens in line.

Nevertheless, the inconvenience of waiting in long lines has somewhat disappeared due to the implementation of the 5-day mask purchase system. Moon Kyung-sook (48, female) said, "It seems more convenient than before because as long as you have a numbered ticket before the pharmacy closes, you can buy a mask," adding, "I don’t feel much anxiety about not being able to buy a mask." Ko Se-hoon (23) also said, "The competition to buy masks has decreased, and it’s good not to have to wait for a long time in front of pharmacies."

However, there were still many complaints about the fact that the purchase limit per person is only two masks and that if you miss buying on your designated day, you have to wait a week. Son Hye-ja (69, female) lamented, "Even if you get a receipt, if you come late, you might not get a mask," and asked, "What are office workers or students supposed to do if they register at 10:30 a.m. when they are going to work or school?"

By deciding to supply 80% of mask production as public supply, a side effect of increasing the price of privately supplied masks is also expected. Although the government belatedly explained that "healthy people do not necessarily need to wear masks during normal activities," the competition to secure enough masks has not eased because masks have become a 'psychological shield.'

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