"Anger Unbearable" Warning of 'Corona Red' Following 'Corona Blue'

Prolonged COVID-19 Pandemic Sparks 'Anger' Beyond 'Depression'
Youth Bruised by COVID-19... 35.9% Increase in 'Deliberate Self-Harm' in First Half
Experts Say "Anxiety Leads to Blame and Conflict"

On the 13th, citizens wearing masks were seen taking a walk at Seokchon Lake in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "Nothing works because of COVID-19. I'm so angry."

As COVID-19 prolongs, more people are expressing extreme anger beyond just 'corona blue (depression),' a phenomenon now called 'corona red.' With daily life restricted due to COVID-19 and some citizens showing non-cooperation with quarantine measures, psychological states such as anger and fear have emerged.

In particular, some people in their 20s and 30s are struggling so much with the pain caused by COVID-19 that they resort to self-harm, signaling a red alert for mental health and becoming a social issue. Experts emphasize psychological quarantine, warning that ongoing COVID-19 stress may manifest in violent behaviors.

Recently, more people have been feeling 'anger' toward COVID-19. This differs from the early stages of the pandemic when primary emotions were 'anxiety,' 'depression,' and 'fear.'

According to a survey conducted by Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Health from May 25 to 28 among 2,000 adults nationwide aged 18 and over, the proportion of respondents who felt 'anger' most strongly when watching COVID-19 news rose from 11.5% in the first week of August to 25.3%, and those who felt 'fear' increased from 5.4% to 15.2%, more than doubling in both cases.

In an open-ended question asking why or when they felt the chosen emotion, respondents who selected 'anger' cited ▲ non-cooperation ▲ collective selfishness ▲ August 15 rallies ▲ Sarang Jeil Church ▲ the government's complacent measures.

This can be seen as a reaction to the recent reports of some irresponsible people refusing COVID-19 tests or mask-wearing orders, which have provoked public anger.

On the 3rd, a banner regarding the mandatory wearing of masks was installed on the exterior wall of the Seoul Library in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Office worker Kim (27) said, "At first, I was depressed because I couldn't go out due to COVID-19. Even at home, I felt trapped, and I had no way to relieve stress since I couldn't hang out with friends."

He added, "But then COVID-19 would calm down, only to resurge again because some people don't follow quarantine rules. Now, I'm angry. Is wearing a mask really that hard? If everyone just followed the rules properly, the number of confirmed cases could decrease, but I still get frustrated when I see people not wearing masks on the subway."

Recently, there have been continuous incidents of people violating quarantine rules and acting aggressively. On the 3rd, a man in his 30s was arrested in Jeju City for refusing to wear a mask and causing a disturbance at a general hospital. On the 9th, a man in his 50s was caught by police for punching a taxi driver who asked him to wear a mask and assaulting police officers at a police station.

As a result, public anger toward so-called 'quarantine nuisance groups' who ignore quarantine rules is growing stronger.

Job seeker Kwon (26) expressed frustration, saying, "I have been working hard for employment in the second half of the year, but all my plans have been ruined." He said, "Everything got messed up because of irresponsible people. After repeatedly failing to get a job, it's embarrassing to face not only my friends but also my family." He raised his voice, saying, "Strong measures such as claiming damages should be taken against those who disrupt quarantine."

On the afternoon of the 2nd, a Seongbuk-gu Office official is holding up a sign to wear masks at the entrance of Jangwi Traditional Market near Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Youth like Kwon are experiencing extreme depression and anger as they are forcibly deprived of employment opportunities due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation.

According to data submitted to Justice Party lawmaker Lee Eun-joo of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service on the 13th, the number of hospital visits due to intentional self-harm in the first half of this year was 1,076, a 35.9% increase compared to 792 cases in the first half of last year.

During the same period, hospital visits increased by 80.5% among people in their 20s and 87.2% among those in their 30s. In addition, increases were seen across all age groups: 69.2% in their 60s, 37.6% in their 50s, and 32.3% in their 40s.

Experts warn that stress caused by COVID-19 can manifest as violent behavior and call for caution.

Professor Kwak Geum-ju of Seoul National University's Department of Psychology said, "The COVID-19 situation is still ongoing and has become unpredictable, which is increasing people's anxiety," adding, "This anxiety can lead to blame and conflict."

She continued, "Since dissatisfaction and anger can lead to a contagion effect, more extreme violence may occur. It is necessary to restrain oneself from anger and blame."

Regarding the youth's lethargy, she explained, "Employment difficulties have been a problem in the past, but recently, due to COVID-19, young people have even lost opportunities to take exams. Uncertainty about the future has increased," adding, "Even if they work hard, they may feel it was all in vain. These factors contribute to the lethargy among young people."

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