'4 Confirmed Cases' Visited Dongdaemun PC Bang... 'Crowding and Missing Masks' Could Trigger Cluster Infection (Comprehensive)

Four Confirmed Cases Overlap at a PC Bang in Dongdaemun-gu

Three of Them Spent Significant Time Together on the 1st of This Month

Crowded Layout and Lack of Mask Wearing

Raise Concerns of a PC Bang Cluster Infection

On the evening of the 10th, users at a PC bang in Mapo-gu, Seoul were playing games without wearing masks. Although there were many empty seats across from them, those who came to the PC bang with friends or coworkers continued to focus on the game while talking with the person next to them.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] It has been confirmed that four confirmed cases of COVID-19 visited a PC bang in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Due to the crowded layout and high rate of mask non-compliance, this PC bang has been pointed out as similar to the 'Guro-gu Ace Insurance (operated by Metanet Mplatform) Call Center' case, raising growing concerns that it could become a new 'cluster infection hotspot.'

On the 11th, quarantine authorities and Dongdaemun-gu confirmed that A (22), the 16th confirmed case in Dongdaemun-gu, visited S PC bang near the Samyuk Seoul Hospital bus stop from 1:20 PM to 4:30 PM on the 7th.

This PC bang had previously been visited by three other confirmed cases from Dongdaemun-gu. The 9th confirmed case in Dongdaemun-gu, who tested positive on the 8th, visited this PC bang on the 1st of this month. Additionally, the 12th and 13th confirmed cases (brothers) visited this PC bang multiple times: ▲February 27th from 9 PM to February 28th 3 AM ▲February 28th from 7 PM to 10 PM ▲February 29th from 7 PM to March 1st 3 AM ▲March 1st from 6 PM to March 2nd 3 AM ▲March 2nd from 7 PM to 10 PM. Among these, on the 1st of this month, the 9th, 12th, and 13th confirmed cases appear to have used the PC bang together.

Although epidemiological investigations are still ongoing, concerns about cluster infections in PC bangs, where people stay indoors for extended periods without wearing masks, are increasing.

At 7:30 PM the previous day, a PC bang in Mapo-gu, Seoul, resembled the scene at the Guro-gu call center. Due to the impact of COVID-19, it was not as crowded as usual, but about 40 customers occupied seats out of 120. Only four of them wore masks. Only the staff wore masks properly over their noses while focusing on disinfecting keyboards and mice.

Despite many empty seats, customers were sitting closely together. The government recommends 'leaving one seat empty' and wearing masks in multi-use facilities like PC bangs, but these guidelines were not followed on site. This is related to the characteristics of PC bang users, most of whom want to enjoy games while chatting with friends or coworkers. It was common for people to take off their masks entirely. Shim Mo (26), who used the PC bang, said, "I came here with friends, but if I wear a mask alone, they say I'm being overly cautious," adding, "Among peers, there's an attitude like 'We're young, so even if we get COVID, will we die?'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Government Recommends 'Leaving One Seat Empty'

But On Site, "We Want to Chat and Play Games Next to Each Other"

"We're Young, So Even If We Get COVID, Will We Die?" Atmosphere

After work hours, those who came to enjoy games with coworkers and friends seemed to have forgotten the fear of COVID-19. Kim Yeo-jeong (alias), who runs a nearby PC bang, said, "The number of customers has dropped by over 60-70%," and expressed frustration, saying, "'Wear a mask while gaming,' 'Please sit separately'?would customers be happy if we say that?"

At 11 PM the same day, a PC bang in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, showed a similar atmosphere. Among about 30 customers, only five wore masks, and three of them wore masks below their chins. The 140-seat PC bang had only one hand sanitizer, and staff did not disinfect keyboards and mice used by customers.

PC bangs, where people are easily exposed to infection, can become a trigger for cluster infections. Two men in their 20s (brothers living in Dongdaemun-gu) who tested positive the previous day reportedly used the PC bang during peak hours from 7 PM to 10 PM, prompting quarantine authorities to investigate their contacts. Park Yang-woo, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, requested, "Multi-use facilities like PC bangs have a high risk of cluster infections. We ask for active participation in social distancing measures, such as leaving one seat empty at PC bangs."

Kim Byung-soo, president of the Korea Internet PC Culture Association, said, "We have notified association members about safety rules such as mandatory mask-wearing, use of hand sanitizers, immediate disinfection of keyboards, mice, and headsets, and hygiene checks and management for teenagers," but added, "Since there are few customers anyway, people sit leaving one seat empty."

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