The Reason Behind Gyeongju City's Decision to Maintain 'Level 1.5' Despite 28 Recent Confirmed Cases

Mayor Ju Nak-yeong, in Video Briefing: "A Critical Situation Where Even an Inch Ahead Is Uncertain"
Yet "Consulted with Gyeongbuk Province, Maintaining Status Quo"... Seemingly Targeting Year-End Demand

Mayor Ju Nak-yeong of Gyeongju is seen announcing the decision to maintain social distancing at level 1.5 as a quarantine measure through a video briefing on the 6th.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] Despite the continuous surge of confirmed cases in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk Province since the 28th of last month, the city decided on the 6th to maintain social distancing at level 1.5, disregarding the government's decision to raise social distancing measures.

Even as n-th generation infections with unknown transmission routes are spreading, this decision is expected to spark controversy as an irresponsible abandonment of quarantine measures aimed solely at benefiting year-end local tourism.

Mayor Ju Nak-young of Gyeongju stated in a video briefing, "Confirmed cases with unknown infection routes are occurring, and n-th generation infections are happening in succession, creating a critical situation where we cannot foresee what lies ahead," urging people to refrain from using multi-use facilities.

He added, "Although the spread of COVID-19 is severe, if strengthened distancing is properly implemented, the speed of spread can gradually slow down," and explained, "After consulting with the Gyeongbuk provincial quarantine authorities, we decided to maintain level 1.5 as it is. Compared to the situation nationwide, including the metropolitan area, it is still a manageable and relatively good level."

During the briefing, Mayor Ju detailed the infection routes of 28 confirmed cases following the outbreak related to the Yeungnam University College of Music's traditional Korean music (gugak) lessons on the 28th of last month. While expressing concern over the untraceable links among confirmed cases, he announced the decision to keep the current distancing level, leaving citizens watching the video briefing puzzled.

In fact, in Gyeongju, after a restaurant owner in his 60s operating mainly delivery services in Angang-eup tested positive (Gyeongju case number 121) on the 4th, five confirmed cases have occurred in Angang-eup as of the 6th, including his wife. Given that Angang-eup in Gyeongju had maintained a COVID-19 clean area until now, citizens' anxiety is growing.

The confirmed cases related to Gyeongju case number 102, a Yeungnam University student, have increased to 18 within two weeks, spreading among participants of the gugak lessons and their family members. As of the 5th, transmission continues to a woman in her 50s (case number 108) who participated in the gugak lessons, her husband, and her parents-in-law, raising concerns about further confirmed cases in the future.

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