[COVID-19 Mask Shortage] Public Institutions Pushed to Risk

Post Office Employees Selling Masks Work Without Mask Supply, Irony
High Infection Risk Due to Frequent Citizen Contact at Community Centers and Tax Offices

On the 28th, as the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection increases, residents are purchasing masks at Munsan Post Office in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung, Paju aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-gi] As a policy supplying 80% of mask production through public distribution is implemented, public service institutions that have close contact with citizens are struggling to obtain masks.

The Korea Post Officials' Union held a protest on the morning of the 12th in front of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, demanding that masks be provided to post office employees as well. Although it has become relatively easier for the general public to purchase masks since the introduction of public masks, post office employees are in the opposite situation. Public masks are allocated to post offices, but the employees who sell masks and interact with citizens cannot purchase these masks themselves.

A representative from the Korea Post said, "We fully understand the difficulties faced by frontline employees. We are working to find countermeasures." Kim Hwang-hyun, Secretary General of the Korea Post Officials' Union, said, "I understand that the Korea Post has requested masks for sales employees from the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety," adding, "It is unreasonable not to provide masks to employees exposed to infection risks while selling masks."

Not only post offices but also other institutions providing civil services to an unspecified large number of citizens are struggling with mask supply issues. A representative from the Cheongpa-dong Community Service Center in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, said, "Employees are preparing masks individually to avoid disruptions in work." The situation at the Yongsan Tax Office was similar. All employees in the civil service office were wearing masks, and transparent partitions were installed between citizens and employees. A tax office official said, "The National Tax Service provided 5 to 6 masks per person around mid-last month. Since that supply has run out, it would be good to receive more, but there has been no further contact."

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