Abolishing the Mask 5-Day Rotation System Is a 'Small Victory' in the COVID-19 War (Comprehensive)

From 'Geum Mask' to the Abolition of the 5-Day Rotation System... Focusing Capabilities
Supply of 'Splash-Proof' Masks Expected as Early as This Week

On the first day of the abolition of the public mask purchase 5-day rotation system on the 1st, a citizen is buying a mask at a pharmacy street in Jongno 5-ga, Seoul. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that with the improvement in mask supply conditions, from today anyone can purchase public masks at pharmacies nationwide on any desired day. Those aged 19 and over can purchase 3 masks per person as before, while elementary, middle, and high school students and kindergarteners aged 18 and under can purchase up to 5 masks. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] "When the situation was bad, 80% of the entire workforce had to go to mask production sites to manage supply and demand. It was that desperate." (Official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety)

With the abolition of the five-day mask distribution system, the desperate mask supply situation has eased. Although the country experienced a crisis comparable to a 'small war' against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), demand and supply have balanced, eliminating the inconvenience of long lines and chaotic situations such as hoarding. Furthermore, with the supply of droplet-blocking masks, which combine the advantages of dental masks and health masks, expected to begin as early as this week, the market is anticipated to stabilize even more.

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on the 2nd, from this month, public masks can be purchased regardless of birth year. It is possible to buy all three masks in one day or split the purchase over two or more days. Adolescents under 18 can buy up to five masks in preparation for attending school. Considering that the entire country was once engulfed in turmoil due to the mask crisis, this can be regarded as a 'small victory' overcoming a critical phase of the COVID-19 situation.

The average daily domestic mask production increased sharply from 3 million units in December last year to 14.66 million units recently. This is a 389% increase in three months. The mandatory supply ratio that mask manufacturers must provide to the government was also lowered from 80% to 60% of production. For health masks, exports are allowed within 10% of production volume.

Additionally, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has designated droplet-blocking masks, which are easy to breathe through yet highly effective at blocking droplets, as quasi-drugs and will supply them to the market starting this month. This decision was made due to increased demand for lightweight and breathable dental masks in summer. Droplet-blocking masks are as light and breathable as dental masks while blocking droplets like health masks. Yang Jin-young, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, explained, "Droplet-blocking masks have particle blocking capabilities similar to surgical masks."

The new masks will have the AD (Anti Droplet) mark after the KF (Korea Filter) label, indicating their ability to block fine droplets, such as the dust filtering rate (94% for KF-94) like existing health masks. Droplet-blocking masks are not included in public sales. Deputy Director Yang said, "Three to four companies have already applied for approval," adding, "Supply is expected to begin around the end of this week."

There were many twists and turns before the mask situation improved. A quarantine official said, "When the mask crisis caused nationwide pain, the government focused all its capabilities on expanding mask supply," adding, "Almost daily, numbers were tallied, and all ministries had to get involved."

The 'Mask Supply Related Ministries Task Force (TF),' launched around the time mask controversies began, was effectively an inter-ministerial organization that fully supported mask production. From deregulation of permits by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to fire prevention measures at mask production sites by the Fire Agency, almost all ministries competitively issued support policies day after day.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the main ministry in charge of masks, also faced continuous emergencies. An official from the ministry said, "Even third-grade managers at the deputy director level went to production sites to support mask production, leaving offices almost empty for a while," and self-assessed, "The abolition of the five-day mask distribution system is very meaningful in that regard."

The government's mask response stands out compared to other countries. Japan is still experiencing mask shortages that began at the end of January, and the United States and Europe started securing masks late but have been struggling to obtain sufficient quantities. Meanwhile, many countries envy the high quality and smooth supply of KF (Korea Filter) masks, and the number of countries requesting KF masks is rapidly increasing.

A quarantine official said, "Many citizens seem to feel firsthand that our country's situation is relatively improving while watching mask crises overseas," adding, "The abolition of the five-day mask distribution system signifies a meaningful achievement in the war against COVID-19."

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