Ten Days After Mask App Launch, Inventory Depletion Rate Rises... Calls for Improvements

Public Mask App Launched on 11th, Ten Days In
High Inventory Depletion Rate...Stable Settlement Evaluated
Suggestions for Additional Features Like Real Purchase Time Added

On the 9th, when the 'Mask 5-Day Rotation System' was implemented, a related notice was posted at a pharmacy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. From this day, public masks can be purchased at pharmacies only on the designated day according to the last digit of the birth year, with a limit of 2 masks per person. 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 Koo Chae-eun] It has been ten days since the government began supporting an application (app) that provides the status of public mask inventory. Nearly 50 mask sales status information app services are receiving relatively positive evaluations for settling in. However, there are ongoing citizen requests for improvements such as actual purchase times by pharmacy and out-of-stock indication features.

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT and the industry on the 22nd, since the introduction of the mask app, over 90% of the public mask stock at pharmacies nationwide is being sold daily. This is because more buyers have been visiting pharmacies, even those located on high floors or outskirts that were previously hard to reach, by checking the app. Although the 'mask shortage' was severe, before the app was introduced, the stock depletion rate remained around 70%, but after information was opened through the app, the depletion rate significantly increased.

A Ministry of Science and ICT official said, "After opening public data, pharmacy information is shared in real-time, and stock is being evenly depleted by pharmacy," adding, "It is understood that more people are visiting pharmacies located on higher floors rather than just the first floor to make purchases."

On the 9th, when the 'Mask 5-Day Rotation System' was implemented, citizens lined up at a pharmacy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to purchase public masks. From this day, at pharmacies, individuals can buy only two masks per person on the designated day according to the last digit of their 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@

However, there are still criticisms that there is a 'time lag' in pharmacy opening hours and stock quantities. One user said, "Since the sales start time varies by pharmacy, there are many cases of wasted trips, so I hope the actual purchase time can also be added to the app data." Another mask app user suggested, "For elderly users who are not familiar with the app, masks could be distributed regardless of the 5-day rotation system." Additionally, opinions such as "Pharmacies that receive reservation numbers have a large time lag between the app and on-site," and "It would be better if the map display text were larger for elderly users" are also being voiced.

A representative from a mask app development company said, "Since the items of public data provided by the government are fixed, we cannot accommodate all user opinions, but we are reflecting them as much as possible and updating functions."

The government plans to additionally open public data that helps comprehensively understand COVID-19 response situations, such as confirmed case statistics, lists, quarantine target locations, screening clinic lists, public relief hospitals, and protective equipment distribution centers.

Meanwhile, earlier on the 10th, the government opened public mask sales data to the private sector to support the mask inventory status app service. Accordingly, major portals such as Naver and Daum, as well as private app developers like Mask Alimi, Mask Scanner, and Mask Saja, have been providing public mask inventory status services since the morning of the 11th.

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