"Is It a Mortal Sin to Have Been to Itaewon?" Excessive Criticism and Personal Attacks, What Do You Think?

COVID-19 Spread from Itaewon Clubs
Criticism Pours on Those Visiting Clubs or Overlapping Routes
Some Face Harsh Criticism Including Severe Insults

Entertainment facilities. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seunggon Han] # A man in his 30s, office worker Mr. A, who visited a club in Itaewon, Seoul during the golden holiday period, has recently been receiving harsh verbal abuse from unknown people on social media. One netizen found Mr. A's Instagram and commented, "Because of you, the whole country is trembling in fear of COVID-19. Take responsibility." Another user pointed out, "If you were told not to go, you shouldn't have gone. Why are you causing harm?" Mr. A responded, "Of course, I feel sorry," but also said, "Isn't it too much to come to my SNS and criticize me like this?"

As the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) originating from Itaewon clubs in Seoul spreads rapidly, criticism continues against those who visited the clubs or were in Itaewon at that time.

The criticism is about ignoring the government's guidelines on 'social distancing' and visiting enclosed spaces such as clubs and entertainment facilities.

The problem lies in the degree of criticism. Some worry that just being in Itaewon at that time is leading to excessive verbal abuse and criticism, effectively branding people with a 'scarlet letter' or stigma.

On the other hand, some argue that in the global COVID-19 situation, people who ignored this and only sought their own entertainment should accept some level of criticism.

Mr. B, an office worker in his 30s, said, "I think they brought this on themselves and should accept criticism," adding, "I don't think they have any reason to feel unfairly treated."

Another office worker in his 40s, Mr. C, said, "I wouldn't say anything if only they suffered, but the problem is the risk of secondary, tertiary, and quaternary infections." He continued, "Others want to have fun too, but they are holding back," and expressed frustration, saying, "This is the worst kind of nuisance."

On the 8th, a notice of compliance guidelines for entertainment facilities was posted in front of a club in Itaewon, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, even just undergoing testing for COVID-19 has led to harsh scrutiny. Office worker Mr. D said, "I happened to spend time near Itaewon, so out of caution, I got tested for COVID-19." He added, "I went to work the next day after the test, but I felt uncomfortable because people at work looked at me strangely."

Given this situation, health authorities have decided to change the way they disclose movement paths to prevent identifying individual patients when revealing locations of cluster infections.

This is a measure taken after cases where personal information of COVID-19 confirmed patients linked to Itaewon clubs was excessively exposed, leading to privacy invasions close to 'doxxing.'

On the 13th, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting, "During testing, no information other than whether the person visited Itaewon will be asked to prevent identity exposure, and even if confirmed positive, information that can identify individuals will be deleted, and only movement paths with risk of secondary infection will be minimally disclosed."

Also, Kim Kang-lip, the first chief coordinator of CDSCH, explained at a regular briefing that day, "When disclosing the initial patient's movement path, specific information such as business names will be revealed, but even if additional confirmed cases visit the same establishment later, business names will not be disclosed."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that one of the COVID-19 confirmed patients related to the Itaewon clubs visited a nightclub in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, between the night of the 9th and early morning of the 10th.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters and Bucheon City, Gyeonggi Province, on the 18th, Mr. E (32), a Vietnamese national residing in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, visited an Itaewon club on the 1st of this month and then visited a nightclub in Bucheon from 11:48 p.m. on the 9th to 12:34 a.m. on the 10th. Mr. A was confirmed positive for COVID-19 the day before.

Health authorities explained that an epidemiological investigation has been launched. Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a regular briefing held at the Osong Disease Control Headquarters in Chungbuk on the day, "During the epidemiological investigation, we identified yesterday that the confirmed patient visited a nightclub," adding, "As with the investigation of Itaewon club visitors, we are conducting an investigation into visitors of the Bucheon nightclub through visitor logs and credit card usage records."

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