More Dangerous Than Shincheonji, 'Chumcheonji'... "Today and Tomorrow Are the Golden Time"

① Difficulty Securing Visitor List of Itaewon Clubs
② Spread in Densely Populated Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi Areas
③ Overlapping Fatigue from Social Distancing Measures

Image source=Yonhap News

[Asia Economy reporters Choi Dae-yeol and Kim Heung-soon] The pattern of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in South Korea, which had been entering a stabilization phase, is showing signs of a resurgence. Since the golden holiday period that lasted up to six days from the 30th of last month, related confirmed cases triggered at the Itaewon clubs in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, have been spreading nationwide.

This wave is similar in development to the cluster outbreak centered around the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu at the end of February. There are many patients in their 20s and other young generations, and due to concerns about social stigma, people have been reluctant to get tested. In situations where infection routes are unclear, transmission rapidly occurs mainly among family members or acquaintances. For this reason, some are calling this outbreak, which spread mainly through entertainment establishments, "Chumcheonji" (Dance Shincheonji), drawing a parallel to Shincheonji.

On the other hand, concerns are rising that the situation could be more dangerous than the "Shincheonji pandemic," considering that it is much harder to trace suspected patients, the outbreak started in the Seoul metropolitan area including Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon where more than half of the population lives, and the extraordinary measure of high-intensity social distancing has ended.

Exposure Among 2030 Young Adults, Similar to Shincheonji, but
Urgent Efforts to Trace Locations Due to Fear of Stigma

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19, as of midnight on the 11th, there were 35 new confirmed cases domestically. Among them, 20 were in Seoul, 4 in Gyeonggi, and 3 in Incheon, totaling 27 cases in the metropolitan area. There were 29 cases reported nationwide, most of which appear to be related to the Itaewon clubs. The cumulative number of confirmed cases related to Itaewon clubs increased from 15 on the 8th to 79 as of 8 a.m. on the day.

According to the quarantine authorities and Seoul city, 5,517 people visited Itaewon clubs from the 24th of last month to the 6th of this month. Among them, 2,405 have been contacted, but 3,112 remain unaccounted for. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said in a radio interview that morning, "The lists written when visiting the clubs were either falsely filled out or people are deliberately not answering calls," adding, "It seems they are worried about personal disadvantages."

Local governments believe that most of those who went to the clubs are young people in their 20s and 30s, who are sensitive to their movement paths being publicly disclosed online if confirmed positive. Additionally, some of the clubs where confirmed cases occurred are known to be gathering places for sexual minorities, making epidemiological investigations difficult. Mayor Park emphasized, "There is no burden or invasion of privacy for individuals. You can get tested at the public health center in your area, and your identity will not be revealed."

On the 11th, citizens who visited the screening clinic set up at Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul, where concerns about the spread of COVID-19 from Itaewon clubs are rising, are lining up to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Incubation Period Underway... This Week is the Turning Point for Resurgence
Don't Miss the 'Golden Time' to Block Large-Scale Spread

The government and local authorities secured the list of about 210,000 Shincheonji followers nationwide after the first Shincheonji-related patient was reported at the end of February and conducted a full investigation. They tested those with suspicious symptoms and found 5,212 related patients. After the first Shincheonji-related patient was confirmed in Daegu on February 18, the cumulative number of patients surged through about two weeks of intensive testing, but the situation was relatively quickly brought under control.

The Itaewon club-related outbreak faces the limitation that such a full investigation is difficult. The quarantine authorities estimate that the outbreak at the facility began around the end of last month. On the 6th, a 29-year-old man living in Yongin city was first reported as a related patient. Considering the initial transmission situation and the longest incubation period of COVID-19, which is two weeks, this week is regarded as the "golden time" to block a large-scale outbreak.

Professor Lee Jae-gap of Hallym University’s Department of Infectious Diseases said, "There is a possibility that many additional confirmed cases will emerge on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (the 11th to 13th). Even if sporadic, if related patients continue to appear in the community, we should consider re-implementing social distancing measures in preparation for a resurgence."

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting that day, "I earnestly ask those who visited Itaewon around the same time once again," adding, "If you hesitate for a day, our daily life clock may stop for a month. The government has no choice but to consider stronger measures for the safety of all," urging cooperation.

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