"Stay Home a Bit" Citizens Boil Over 'Chukangseu' Vacation Selfies

Special Quarantine Measures for 'Chuseok Holiday' Implemented for Two Weeks from the 28th
Some Citizens Go on 'Chukangseu'... Posting 'Proof Shots' on SNS
Experts Concerned "Citizens Following Quarantine Rules May Feel Relative Deprivation"

On social networking services (SNS) and others, numerous 'Chukangseu' certification photos have been posted, sparking controversy. In particular, more than 1,000 posts related to 'Chukangseu' have been uploaded on Instagram. Photo by Instagram

[Asia Economy reporters Han Seung-gon and Kim Seul-gi] As the government announced special quarantine measures for COVID-19 for two weeks starting from the 28th, two days before the Chuseok holiday, some citizens have been criticized for posting so-called 'Chukangseu' certification shots, which ignore social distancing.

'Chukangseu' is a portmanteau of 'Chuseok' and 'vacance' (vacation), and there are growing concerns that COVID-19 could spread due to people going on 'Chukangseu' trips.

According to the Korea Airports Corporation on the 27th, about 960,000 people are expected to flock to domestic airports during the Chuseok holiday. This is because some citizens chose domestic travel instead of returning to their hometowns due to the COVID-19 situation. Also, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the accommodation reservation rate during this Chuseok holiday period is 94.9% in Gangwon Province and 56% in Jeju Island.

Given this situation, the government and quarantine authorities have expressed concerns. There is worry that crowds at travel destinations could lead to a real spread of COVID-19. During the golden holiday in May, COVID-19 re-spread centered around places like clubs in Itaewon, Seoul, so the government urged people to refrain from traveling.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun expressed concern in a public address released that afternoon, saying, "Travel destinations where many people gather at once are just as risky as hometown visits," and added, "Trips that should be precious memories could threaten the safety of families and communities." He further urged, "For this Chuseok, I earnestly ask everyone to have a safe and relaxed rest at home with their families."

Kim Kang-lip, the chief spokesperson of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, also emphasized at a regular briefing on the 23rd, "With accommodation reservation rates very high during the holiday, it is necessary to thoroughly prepare quarantine measures for major tourist spots such as hotels and amusement facilities."

Accordingly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to provide guidelines for travel routes and situations during the Chuseok holiday and deploy about 3,200 quarantine personnel responsible for quarantine and enforcement of quarantine rules at tourist sites.

Despite the government and quarantine authorities voicing concerns, many 'Chukangseu' certification shots are being posted on social networking services (SNS), sparking controversy. Especially on Instagram, more than 1,000 posts related to 'Chukangseu' have been uploaded. These posts boast of flight tickets or hotel reservations booked during the Chuseok holiday or show scenes of people departing on trips.

On the weekend of the 26th, just before the Chuseok holiday, many tourists arriving in Jeju are seen wearing masks as they exit Jeju International Airport. Photo by Yonhap News

In response to this situation, citizens have criticized the 'Chukangseu' certification shots. The government's recommendation to refrain from returning home does not mean to travel instead, but rather to maintain social distancing individually to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and violating this is seen as selfish.

Self-employed person Kim (54) said, "After the 'May golden holiday' COVID-19 pandemic, business was so bad I wanted to die. I was somewhat relieved when the government recommended refraining from returning home and announced special quarantine measures for this Chuseok holiday, but how can people post 'Chukangseu' certification shots? Who wouldn't want to travel during the holiday? But selfish individual actions ultimately bring a big shock to people like us self-employed."

In particular, Jeju Island, a popular travel destination for 'Chukangseu,' expects up to around 300,000 arrivals, and efforts are being made to prevent infection by designating the period until the 4th of next month as the 'Chuseok Holiday Special Quarantine Intensive Management Period.'

A netizen who identified themselves as a Jeju resident vented on their Twitter, "There are so many 'Chukangseu' certification shots of Jeju Island on SNS. Please, don't come to Jeju. What kind of disaster is this for Jeju residents... Don't you even think about the suffering of medical staff? We are asking to refrain from traveling, but people stubbornly want to come to Jeju. They really have no conscience."

Experts pointed out that 'Chukangseu' certification shots could cause a sense of relative deprivation among the majority of citizens who follow quarantine rules and the government's travel restraint recommendations.

Professor Kwak Geum-ju of Seoul National University's Department of Psychology said, "This phenomenon seems to occur because the frustrating and uncertain gloomy reality continues," but also expressed concern, "If such posts keep appearing, people who are following the government's recommendations well may feel a sense of relative deprivation."

She added, "It is necessary to be more cautious and consider the derivative consequences rather than acting only based on personal feelings."

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