"Going to the Provinces for Year-End Parties" 2030s Traveling Despite 'Corona Curfew', Citizens Outraged

Capital area social distancing raised to level 2.5 until year-end... Non-capital areas raised to level 2
Seoul reduces public transport operation by 30% after 9 PM
Some 20-30 youth move to regions with less strict 'Corona curfew'
Experts say "Young people less alert to Corona risk"

On the 5th, the Facebook page 'Real-time Daegu' posted an article stating that citizens from the metropolitan area are coming to Daegu for a 'club expedition.' Photo by Facebook capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "It's not like something terrible will happen if we don't meet, please just cancel it.", "Let's just spend the year-end at home."

As the number of new COVID-19 cases continues to stay in the 600s and the spread intensifies, the government raised the social distancing level to 2.5 in the metropolitan area starting from the 8th. Earlier, Seoul also took measures to effectively 'shut down' the city by reducing public transportation after 9 p.m.

However, some young people are causing problems by going on so-called 'expedition gatherings' to regions with relatively lower distancing levels despite government guidelines. For example, they book accommodations in the provinces and visit clubs and karaoke rooms that operate longer hours than in the metropolitan area to relieve stress. Experts pointed out that young people are less cautious about COVID-19 compared to other age groups.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun stated at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at Seoul City Hall on the 6th, "The cumulative number of confirmed cases in Seoul has surpassed 10,000, and the situation in the metropolitan area is serious," adding, "The metropolitan area, where the COVID-19 situation is severe, will raise the distancing level to 2.5."

This increase in distancing level will be implemented from midnight on the 8th for three weeks until the end of the year. Accordingly, gatherings and events of more than 50 people are banned in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi, and major multi-use facilities must close after 9 p.m.

Earlier, Seoul had proactively reduced public transportation such as buses and subways by 30% after 9 p.m. starting from the 5th and imposed additional quarantine measures including the suspension of store and mart operations.

On the 7th, one day before the implementation of social distancing level 2.5 to respond to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the streets of Hongdae in Mapo-gu, Seoul, appeared quiet. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

However, many are concerned about a 'balloon effect' caused by this curfew in the metropolitan area. People have started going on 'expeditions' to provinces where the curfew is less strict to avoid the immediate shutdown at 9 p.m. in the metropolitan area.

Recently, numerous posts have appeared on SNS and online communities reporting that metropolitan area residents are going on 'club expeditions' to the provinces.

On the 'Real-time Daegu' Facebook page, which has over 220,000 followers, a post on the 5th stated, "As the entire country has raised social distancing to level 2 or higher and all clubs have closed, more people are coming to Daegu for 'club expeditions'." The operator also uploaded screenshots of posts from those announcing their 'club expeditions.'

Netizens commented on the post, saying, "People are doing all sorts of things. It's not like you'll catch a deadly disease if you just refrain from clubs. I hope people think and act responsibly," "Why are there so many thoughtless people?" and "What is wrong with those who are desperate to go to clubs during this situation?"

In summary, despite the elevation of distancing levels to prevent COVID-19, some young people in their 20s and 30s are ignoring the guidelines and seeking out 'blind spots' in quarantine measures to enjoy their nightlife.

On the 7th, one day before the implementation of social distancing level 2.5 to respond to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), a notice of shortened business hours is posted at a restaurant near Hongdae in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

As the situation worsened, the government also uniformly raised the distancing level to 2 in non-metropolitan areas for the same period. However, Daegu and Gyeongbuk applied slightly relaxed distancing measures compared to the level 2 basic manual.

Gyeongbuk maintained a 1.5-level quarantine for entertainment facilities (five types) such as clubs, requiring them to close after 11 p.m., while Daegu did not impose a ban on operations after 9 p.m. for karaoke rooms, gyms, and indoor standing concert halls.

As a result, residents of Daegu and Gyeongbuk expressed concerns that metropolitan area citizens might come again for 'expedition gatherings.'

A netizen who identified as a Daegu resident posted on SNS, "Not only should the distancing levels be the same nationwide, but the detailed guidelines should also be identical," adding, "Because some places allow it and others don't, confusion increases, and inevitably the 'balloon effect' continues."

Experts emphasized the urgency of raising the distancing level to 3 to strengthen quarantine. Professor Kim Woo-joo of the Infectious Diseases Department at Korea University Guro Hospital pointed out, "Young people are less cautious than the elderly," and stressed, "We must be careful to prevent one infection from leading to 'Nth infections.'"

He continued, "We must consider that it is 'winter,' when virus activity is more active," and emphasized, "Under the current situation, the distancing level should be raised to 3 and maintained for about two weeks to curb the spread."

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