MFDS to Supply Additional 520,000 Children's Masks... 50 Masks Per Pharmacy

On the 9th, when the 'Mask 5-Day Rotation System' was implemented, citizens are purchasing public masks at a pharmacy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 18th that it will supply an additional 520,000 small-sized masks in response to field feedback that children's masks are in short supply at frontline pharmacies.

The Ministry explained that the total quantity of small masks supplied based on demand surveys per pharmacy is 527,000, and that up to 50 masks will be distributed to 10,920 pharmacies nationwide.

On this day, a total of 8,488,000 public masks were supplied through public sales outlets such as pharmacies. Among these, 469,000 masks were allocated to special supply areas including Daegu and Gyeongbuk, and 1,666,000 masks were prioritized for medical institutions. Additionally, 6,055,000 masks were assigned to pharmacies nationwide, 158,000 to Nonghyup Hanaro Mart (excluding Seoul and Gyeonggi), and 140,000 to town and township post offices.

Due to the implementation of the 'Mask Purchase 5-Day Rotation System' based on the last digit of the birth year, on Wednesday, people whose birth year ends with 3 or 8 can present their resident registration card or other ID to purchase two masks per person at pharmacies and other outlets.

For children (born in 2010 or later), elderly (born in 1940 or earlier), and long-term care benefit recipients, cohabitants listed on the resident registration can purchase masks on their behalf by presenting the proxy purchaser’s official ID, a resident registration certificate (with all resident registration numbers listed), and a long-term care certificate. In this case, the purchase must also correspond to the birth year of the intended recipient.

The government has been implementing the 'Mask 5-Day Rotation System' since the 9th, allowing individuals to purchase two public masks per week at public sales outlets on designated days according to the last digit of their birth year: 1 and 6 on Monday, 2 and 7 on Tuesday, 3 and 8 on Wednesday, 4 and 9 on Thursday, and 5 and 0 on Friday.

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