"Please Wear a Mask" Street Vendors 'No Mask'... Citizens Feel 'Uneasy' [Han Reporter Goes]

Some Street Vendors in Jongno Area Prepare Food Without Masks
Concerns Over COVID-19 Spread Due to Droplets
Fear of 'Invisible Transmission' with Unknown Infection Routes
Civilians Say "Unhygienic and Risk of COVID Spread"
District Office: "Minimizing Citizen Discomfort Through Continuous Guidance"

Street vendors in the Nakwon Arcade area of Jongno, Seoul. The area, visited on the afternoon of the 9th, appeared quiet due to strengthened social distancing measures. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "Isn't it mandatory to wear a mask when making food?" "I'm worried about COVID-19."

On the afternoon of the 9th, some street vendors in the Jongno area of Seoul were seen without masks, in a 'no mask' state. In this situation, they were talking with customers who visited the stalls and also preparing food.

Despite the implementation of social distancing level 2.5, mandatory mask-wearing, and strengthened quarantine rules due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, some street vendors did not appear to follow infection prevention guidelines. This raised concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19 through droplet transmission.

On that day, checking the mask-wearing status of street vendors mainly around Nakwon Arcade revealed that some vendors were not wearing masks.

Another vendor greeted customers and busily prepared food while wearing a mask on the chin, so-called 'chinsaek' (mask worn on the chin). This vendor repeatedly put on and took off the mask with one hand while holding cooking utensils with the other.

The situation was similar at other stalls. At one stall, customers gathered on plastic chairs set up beside the stall, eating and conversing. The distance between them and the displayed food was almost negligible.

Considering the quarantine authorities' recommendation to wear masks before and after eating and during conversations, none of these rules were being followed. Especially, with vendors and customers not wearing masks, droplets could have splattered onto the displayed food.

If infectious bacteria such as COVID-19 were transmitted to passersby near these stalls, there could be concerns about 'dark transmission,' where the infection route is difficult to trace.

Street vendors in the Nakwon Arcade area, Jongno, Seoul. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

Citizens observing this expressed discomfort and voiced criticism over the risk of COVID-19 spread. A university student in their 20s, Lee, met near Nakwon Arcade, said, "Everyone is wearing masks, so I don't understand why some don't wear them," adding, "Especially for street vendors preparing food, shouldn't they be more careful about hygiene?"

Kim, a company employee in their 30s, said, "If they keep not wearing masks like that and more confirmed cases appear, shouldn't these street vendors just close down?" He added, "I hope they manage this well before COVID-19 cases rise again. As a customer, I don't want to visit street vendors who don't wear masks."

Park, an office worker in their 40s, pointed out, "Street vendors should wear masks more diligently," adding, "I feel uneasy and might not be able to eat the food."

Amid ongoing criticism from citizens, one street vendor explained that they do not go without a mask all day.

The vendor emphasized, "Others also take off their masks when it gets uncomfortable; I think it should be seen that way." He continued, "When making food and such, I wear the mask properly for the customers' sake." He reiterated, "I only occasionally don't wear the mask; I don't keep it off continuously."

Jongno District Office, which has the authority to enforce mask-wearing, stated it will conduct guidance to prevent inconvenience to citizens. Earlier, on the 24th of last month, Seoul City began enforcing mandatory mask-wearing due to the spread of COVID-19. According to detailed guidelines, masks must be worn indoors such as on buses and subways, and outdoors during gatherings or meetings.

A disaster safety official explained, "Mask-wearing is mandatory indoors, but outdoors it applies when people gather in groups and have contact with others," adding, "It is ambiguous to apply these standards to street vendors."

He emphasized, "However, given the concerns about COVID-19 spread, we strongly urge mask-wearing and will continue guidance efforts to ensure citizens do not experience inconvenience or anxiety."

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