Enjoying Outdoors at Parks Instead of Cafes and Restaurants... The Unsmiling 'Covidiot'

Social Distancing Level 2.5 Ineffective... Hangang Park and Ttukseom Crowded with Citizens
Government Strengthens Park Enforcement... Seoul's 10 Million Citizens' Pause Week Extended
Experts "High Risk of Close Contact Outdoors... Personal Quarantine Rules Must Be Followed"

On the afternoon of the 6th, citizens are spending time at Yeouido Hangang Park in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Gayeon] As social distancing measures have been strengthened mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), controls continue in pubs, cafes, PC rooms, gyms, and other places. Meanwhile, some citizens are not effectively following the distancing recommendations, such as drinking alcohol in parks.

As a result, concerns are growing that COVID-19 may spread further due to violations of quarantine rules, such as not wearing masks. Some citizens do not wear masks at all and sit closely together while having conversations.

Some criticize this behavior by calling them "covidiots." The term "covidiot" is a portmanteau of "Covid" (the English name for COVID-19) and "idiot," referring to people who do not wear masks or practice social distancing despite a large-scale outbreak.

Experts repeatedly urged compliance with quarantine rules, emphasizing that the risk of COVID-19 infection exists even outdoors.

The government announced that it would extend the social distancing level 2.5 in the metropolitan area, originally scheduled to end on the 6th, until the 13th and expand the scope of application. Accordingly, Seoul City also extended the "Ten Million Citizens Pause Week" by one week.

With franchise cafes restricting seat usage inside stores and bans on dining after 9 p.m., citizens continue to visit outdoor parks. They either visit nearby parks carrying take-out drinks or buy alcohol and snacks at convenience stores at night, spread out mats, and enjoy eating and drinking.

This is a so-called "balloon effect," where restrictions on indoor use and dining bans lead people to gather elsewhere. The balloon effect refers to a phenomenon where pressing one side of a balloon causes the other side to bulge, meaning solving one problem causes issues in another area.

Last weekend, places like Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Hangang Park in Yeouido, and Ttukseom were crowded with such citizens. On social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram, many posts criticized citizens who did not follow quarantine rules.

Citizens raised their voices with comments such as, "Is someone who doesn't know how to have fun supposed to just stay home? How is this different from the Gwanghwamun rally?", "Only self-employed people are suffering," "Can't we just stay home and not play for a little while?", and "Doesn't this make the meaning of social distancing level 2.5 meaningless?"

On the afternoon of the 6th, a notice requesting users to refrain from using park facilities was posted on the Gyeongui Line Forest Trail in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

A university student A (24), who recently visited Hangang Park, said, "I think now is actually an opportunity because not many people are going out due to COVID-19," adding, "I thought the risk of infection would be lower outdoors since it is not an enclosed space."

An office worker B (29) also said, "Since I can't use cafes, I take out coffee during lunch break and chat with colleagues on a nearby park bench before going back."

B added, "It's just a short break to get some fresh air during lunch. Since we commute and eat together anyway, I don't think talking for 30 more minutes makes much difference."

Experts emphasized that it is most important to follow personal quarantine rules even outdoors.

Professor Kim Woo-joo of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "The risk of COVID-19 transmission varies depending on the place, environment, and behavior. Outdoors is less risky than indoors, but when people have close contact, drink alcohol, talk, and do not keep distance, the risk increases."

Professor Kim added, "It is important to voluntarily follow quarantine rules, but the problem is the declining trust in government policies. The solidarity between the government and citizens is important, but it seems to have collapsed, which is concerning."

Meanwhile, Seoul City plans to ban eating and drinking at street stalls, food trucks, and Hangang Park after 9 p.m. and implement emergency park management measures.

Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, announced the extension of the "Ten Million Citizens Pause Week" by one week at a COVID-19 regular briefing held at Seoul City Hall on the 6th, urging, "Seoul citizens, please once again demonstrate your great civic spirit until midnight on the 13th."

The acting mayor said, "We are currently guiding people to refrain from entering lawns, maintain a 2-meter distance between users in parks, and avoid nighttime use. Other parks are temporarily closing facilities such as pavilions, rest areas, and outdoor exercise equipment, and we are strengthening inspections and enforcement to ensure mask-wearing," adding, "Social distancing has become the 'common sense' and 'duty' of our time as a community of life. Please put in a little more effort and participate."

Earlier, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing held at the Osong Disease Control Headquarters in Chungbuk on the 3rd, "This is a very important time when the entire nation’s unity is rapidly controlling the resurgence of COVID-19," emphasizing, "Even if the intensity of distancing measures is adjusted in the future, please strictly follow the rules, wear masks, maintain hand hygiene, and get tested accordingly."

He continued, "If you happen to be criticized by others for not following quarantine rules, please accept their concerns and criticisms and show the courage to immediately change your behavior," urging once again.

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