Churches, Civil Complaints, Study Cafes... 'Social Distancing' Blind Spots Remain

8 out of 10 People Visit in Person for Driver's License Reissuance, "Online Application Available"
Despite Droplet Transmission Risk, Churches Forcefully Hold Worship with 'Group Prayer'
Students Losing Places Due to Library and Academy Closures Turn to Study Cafes

Amid the government's emphasis on social distancing to prevent the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a large banner for the two-week "Pause for a Moment" campaign to promote social distancing is displayed on the exterior wall of Seoul Library in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Gwan-ju and Kim Bong-gi] The novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is creating a new society. The unprecedented 'April school opening' has become a reality, and working from home is no longer seen as unusual. A consensus on 'social distancing' to prevent the spread of infection has also been formed. However, there remain 'blind spots' where people do not or cannot follow these measures for various reasons.

While social attention and measures are focused on group facilities such as call centers and nursing hospitals, it is now time to closely observe areas that have received relatively little attention so far. A representative example is the driver's license center. Driver's licenses are closely related to the livelihood and daily life of the public, so demand for related services remains steady even amid the COVID-19 crisis. Although driver's license 'reissuance' applications can be made online, 8 out of 10 cases are still handled at local driver's license examination centers or police stations.

According to the Korea Road Traffic Authority on the 18th, from late January when the COVID-19 spread intensified to the first week of this month, a total of 125,130 driver's license reissuance applications were made. However, only 24,994 (20.0%) of these were submitted online, while the remaining 80% were processed at driver's license examination centers or nearby police stations.

Meanwhile, cases of driver's license examination center staff or applicants testing positive for COVID-19 are increasing. On the 16th, one of the confirmed cases among the congregation of the Grace River Church was identified as an employee of the Yongin Driver's License Examination Center, leading to the facility's closure for two days. Last month, the Daegu Driver's License Examination Center was temporarily closed after it was confirmed that COVID-19 patients from the Ulsan area had visited twice. The Korea Road Traffic Authority urges the use of the 'Safe Driving Integrated Civil Service' website to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Applications for lost license reissuance, renewals, and even international driver's licenses can be made through the website. An official from the authority stated, "We aim to continuously expand non-face-to-face services for COVID-19 prevention and public convenience."

Religious facilities, identified as hotspots for COVID-19 cluster infections, remain potential risk areas. The Sarang Jeil Church in Jangwi-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, president of the Christian Council of Korea (CCK), serves as the head pastor, held a prayer meeting on the evening of the 17th urging the release of Pastor Jeon. Worshippers loudly recited Bible verses in unison during the 'loud prayer.' About 200 believers attended the two-hour event. There was also encouragement to actively participate in a CCK-led rally near Seoul National University of Education Station. In response, a civic group submitted a petition to Seoul City and Seongbuk-gu requesting a ban on the church's worship gatherings. A representative of E Church in Incheon, with about 100 members, said, "Since we sit far apart and do not eat together after worship, the risk of infection is low," adding, "If worship is completely closed, the number of believers will decrease, so the church doors must remain open."

Study cafes, which have prospered as a counterbalance to school, library, and academy closures, are also a ticking time bomb to watch. Study cafes mainly involve studying in close proximity within enclosed spaces but are not included among government-designated vulnerable business sites. Health authorities continue to emphasize sustained social distancing. Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, urged, "Please practice social distancing more strictly until the outbreak is controlled," adding, "If we stop or relax now, the number of cluster cases we have experienced will increase, and the number of infections will rise sharply."

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