Year-End Without Year-End Parties... Quiet Holiday Season Amid COVID-19 Spread

Not Planning at All or Only Small Family Events
"Struggled with Overdrinking at Year-End
Contributing to the Advancement of Corporate Culture"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon, Intern Reporter Lee Jun-hyung] "'The slogan 'Year-end holidays with family' seems to be properly observed this year."

Song Yoo-jin (34), an office worker living in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, decided not to attend the year-end party with her college classmates this year. Although some classmates who insisted on gathering contacted her, she declined, saying, "I plan to spend it quietly at home this year." She said, "As the year-end approaches, I am getting more calls to 'let's meet once,' and of course, I want to meet acquaintances and share stories, but I probably won't respond due to concerns about COVID-19."

The atmosphere of a year-end without parties is clearly evident in workplaces. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, company dinners and group events have almost disappeared, and there is hardly any movement to 'return to the old days' just because the year-end is approaching. When 15 office workers were asked if there were any plans for company year-end parties, more than half, 8 people, answered that 'there are no scheduled events so far.' According to a survey conducted last month by the Korea Foreign Enterprises Association (KOFA) targeting 50 branch managers and HR executives of foreign companies in Korea, half reported no plans to hold year-end parties this year. Kim (31), an office worker, said, "There hasn't even been talk about making year-end party plans at work yet," adding, "In the past, year-end meant tough times due to heavy drinking, but COVID-19 seems to have contributed to the advancement of workplace culture."

Many people say that if they must have an offline year-end party, they will at least avoid busy downtown areas. College student Lee Yong-jae (25) said, "We usually gathered in places easy to make appointments like Gangnam or Hongdae, but this year I am looking for other places." Lee Seong-hoon (29) also said, "I plan to wrap up the year quietly by gathering only a few acquaintances at home."

Experts urge people to avoid year-end gatherings as close contact can occur. Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Ewha Mokdong Hospital explained, "There are many cases of COVID-19 infection through close contact among people like colleagues or friends who are like family," adding, "If you must have a gathering, you should follow quarantine rules such as wearing masks during conversations and maintaining distance between tables." The fact that viruses survive better in dry and low-temperature environments is another reason to avoid year-end gatherings. Professor Choi Won-seok of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Ansan Hospital said, "In winter, people spend more time indoors and heating devices are in use, which greatly increases the risk of virus transmission."

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