"Check Mask Stock via Mobile Phone" App Service Starts from 8 AM

On the 9th, when the 'Mask 5-Day Rotation System' was implemented, a citizen in front of a pharmacy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, is holding up a purchased public mask. From this day, at pharmacies, public masks can be purchased only two per person on designated days according to the last digit of the birth year. Proxy purchases are also allowed for children under 10 years old and seniors aged 80 and above. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Joselgina] An application (app) and web service that allow users to check the locations of nearby public mask sellers and real-time stock quantities via mobile phones or PCs started on the 11th.

Mask stock-related app and web service developers such as Goodoc and WearMask resumed services announcing the status of public mask sales from 8 a.m. on the same day. This was a response to the government opening public mask data from the previous evening.

Goodoc, a hospital and pharmacy search app, provides sales status information along with confirmed patient movement paths in 'Mask Scanner.' Mask stock status is divided into four levels with colors: 'No stock or not yet on sale (0-1 items, gray)', '2-29 items (red)', '30-99 items (yellow)', '100 items or more (green)'. Goodoc announced, "The daily updated mask quantity information operates from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m." and "Due to data processing and transmission, there may be a 5-10 minute difference from the actual stock status."

WearMask, a website developed directly by Daegu citizens who had difficulties purchasing masks, also launched its service from the morning of the same day. Users can check pharmacies, post offices, and NongHyup within 3 km nearby that have public masks. However, stock information for NongHyup and post offices will be supported sequentially.

In addition, MyMask, KolokKolokMask, and others also started services. The National Information Society Agency sent official letters to these developers the previous day requesting, "Public mask API-related information should be used internally from 7 p.m. on the 10th and formal services should start from 8 a.m. on the 11th."

Portal companies such as Naver and Kakao also provide mask information through their map apps, Naver Map and KakaoMap, respectively. Naver is considering measures such as guiding pharmacy branches that have masks or disclosing mask stock status when searching for pharmacies on Naver Map. Kakao is also starting to develop functions to inform pharmacy information and mask stock status on KakaoMap.

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