"Go Back to Your Country," "LGBTQ+ Out" COVID-19 Spread, Growing Hate

"Hate Speech Floods: 'Quickly Deport Vietnamese Foreigners'"

On the afternoon of the 18th, it was confirmed that a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) originating from an Itaewon club in Seoul had visited a nightclub in Bucheon. The entrance to the nightclub in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, is closed. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Criticism is growing against a Vietnamese foreigner who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) after visiting a club in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

Some voices even call for the immediate deportation of this foreigner without treatment, raising concerns about foreigner discrimination.

On the other hand, there are opinions that this is a legitimate criticism of visiting entertainment facilities during the COVID-19 situation rather than hatred, leading to controversy over the deportation of foreigners.

Situations of hatred beyond criticism have occurred before. When a club in Itaewon was known to be mainly visited by sexual minorities, hatred against them poured out.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and Bucheon City in Gyeonggi Province on the 18th, a 32-year-old Vietnamese man, Mr. A, living in Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province, was diagnosed with COVID-19 on the 16th.

Mr. A visited a club in Itaewon, Seoul, where a mass infection occurred on the 1st of this month. Then, at 7:30 p.m. on the 9th, he visited a friend's house in Ojeong-dong, Bucheon City. It is known that 32 people were gathered there at the time.

Afterwards, from 11:48 p.m. to 12:34 a.m. on the 10th, he visited 'Merit Night' in Bucheon. Mr. A left the club and went to a nearby hof (Korean pub) and karaoke with friends, then passed through Bupyeong Station and returned to his accommodation at 5 a.m.

According to Bucheon City, about 250 people were present at the nightclub when Mr. A was there. Bucheon City is identifying these individuals and contacting them.

Mr. A showed symptoms of COVID-19, such as a sore throat, on the 12th. Even after symptoms appeared, Mr. A lived as usual and visited an acquaintance's house in Bucheon on the 15th before going to the Bucheon Health Center for a COVID-19 test.

On the morning of the 17th, a 43-year-old Korean colleague of Mr. A was also confirmed positive.

It is known that Mr. A, who tested positive, did not answer calls from quarantine authorities due to fear of forced deportation as an illegal immigrant.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Given this situation, criticism against Mr. A is pouring in. It is pointed out that during the COVID-19 spread phase, while everyone was being cautious, he stayed in enclosed spaces such as clubs, pubs, and friends' houses, spreading the infectious disease.

Especially after it was revealed that Mr. A's status was 'illegal immigrant,' some argue that he should be forcibly deported rather than treated.

A 30-year-old office worker, Mr. B, said, "Entertainment facilities have been places the government continuously urged people not to enter," adding, "Despite that, he deliberately visited a club, got infected with COVID-19, and went around various places, so he deserves criticism."

He continued, "Also, since he is an illegal immigrant, it's questionable how he could move around so much. I hope he stops causing trouble and returns to his country quickly."

Another office worker in his 40s, Mr. C, also said, "I hope he receives treatment in Vietnam," adding, "I think this is a common-sense opinion, not criticism or blame."

However, some point out that such opinions amount to foreigner discrimination. A 20-year-old university student, Ms. D, said, "The government announced that even illegal immigrants would be allowed to get tested for COVID-19 without legal measures like deportation," adding, "I think this is humanitarian. Talking about deportation is too harsh criticism."

Another university student pointed out, "Considering the discrimination and hatred Koreans face in other countries, such remarks should not be made."

On the afternoon of the 16th, the streets of Itaewon, Seoul, were relatively quiet due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). [Image source=Yonhap News]

This hatred controversy previously occurred when an Itaewon club was known as a gay-only club. At that time, some media and netizens suggested that the fact it was a 'gay' club might have accelerated the spread of COVID-19.

As hateful remarks against sexual minorities poured out, international organizations stepped in to calm the situation.

On the 16th (local time), UN Secretary-General Ant?nio Guterres said, "The COVID-19 pandemic has made sexual minorities (LGBTI) more vulnerable to discrimination and hatred as we mark the day commemorating sexual minorities," urging awareness against discrimination.

Secretary-General Guterres pointed out, "Sexual minorities face prejudice, attacks, and the risk of murder simply because of their sexual orientation," adding, "With the spread of COVID-19, many sexual minorities have experienced worsened discrimination."

He continued, "There are reports that many sexual minorities are increasingly stigmatized during the COVID-19 situation, and that police misuse quarantine guidelines to target sexual minorities."

The government also decided to change the way it discloses movement paths to prevent identifying individual patients when revealing places where mass infections occurred.

This is a measure to prevent excessive exposure of personal information of COVID-19 confirmed patients from Itaewon clubs, which led to criticism and a decrease in voluntary reporting.

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

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, only identifiable information such as business names will be disclosed, and even if additional confirmed cases visit the same establishment later, business names will not be disclosed."

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