'Confirmed Case Fear' Hits Rural Villages in Gyeongju... Mayor Jun Nak-yeong Fuels Anxiety Amid Social Distancing Confusion

Gyeongju City, Infection Spread Continues for Ten Days Since 28th Last Month
Following 18 Cases Related to Yeungnam University Music Department's Gugak Lessons...
Eight Residents of Angang-eup Village Confirmed in Chain Infections This Month
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The photo shows the Gyeongbuk Province Rice Labor-Saving Cultivation Technology Demonstration held in Angangdeul, Angang-eup, Gyeongju City, in May 2013.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Dongwook Park] In Gyeongju City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have continued for 10 consecutive days as of the 8th, starting from the 28th of last month.

The resurgence trend of COVID-19 in the Gyeongju area, triggered by confirmed cases related to the Yeungnam University College of Music's traditional Korean music lessons, has spread this month to Angang-eup, a rural village with a population of about 25,000, which had remained a clean area until now.

In Angang-eup, the spread has continued by linking confirmed cases of delivery-focused restaurants and meat shop owners, and the town center is engulfed in tension to the extent that no passersby can be seen even in broad daylight.

In the past ten days, 32 residents have been confirmed positive in the Gyeongju area, including 18 related to the Yeungnam University traditional Korean music lessons. Among them, 8 residents of Angang-eup, including 2 patients (No. 132 and No. 133) confirmed positive on the afternoon of the 8th, are included.

The new confirmed case No. 132 is a contact of Gyeongju case No. 126, and case No. 133 is a contact of Gyeongju case No. 130. The chain is as follows: 121 (restaurant owner in their 60s) → 124 (121’s wife) → 126 (meat shop owner in her 60s) → 132, and 126 → 130 → 133, indicating a high possibility of additional confirmed cases related to restaurants and meat shops.

Amid this spread, Gyeongju City is receiving criticism for causing greater confusion and anxiety among citizens due to mixed messages about the social distancing level in the quarantine measures.

Mayor Jun Nak-young said in a video briefing on the 6th, "This is a critical situation where we cannot foresee even a step ahead," but also announced, "If the strengthened social distancing is properly implemented, the spread speed can gradually slow down. After consultation with the quarantine authorities, we will maintain level 1.5."

Contrary to this official announcement by Mayor Jun on the 6th, since the following day, Gyeongju City has been ordering citizens through SNS to follow enhanced quarantine guidelines equivalent to level 2, stating that "social distancing has been raised to level 2."

Regarding this, a Gyeongju City official said, "In the prolonged COVID-19 situation, we are applying a 'relaxed level 2' for those engaged in livelihoods," and asked for citizens' understanding, explaining, "While maintaining the existing level 1.5 as a base, we include some strengthened measures, but it seems to have caused some confusion."

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