New Year's Eve Gatherings in the COVID Era... Is It Really Okay Just Among People You Know?

After 9 PM Store Closures... Visits to 'Sukbak Eopso & Party Rooms' Increase
Better Than Extravagant Year-End Parties but Concerns Over 'Asymptomatic Infection' Remain
'Raenseon Year-End Parties' Also Emerging as an Alternative

[Asia Economy Reporters Song Seung-yoon, Kim Soo-hwan, Ryu Tae-min] 'OO Motel Room 302.' Office worker Kim Sun-ho recently received a text message like this from a high school friend. It was an announcement that, due to strengthened COVID-19 prevention measures requiring restaurants to close by 9 p.m., they had booked a motel as the second venue for their reunion. Kim said, "I was worried about my wife and daughter waiting at home, but since it's a reunion that only happens once a year, I couldn't refuse," adding, "It's not a crowded restaurant or club, just a small gathering among ourselves, so I thought it would be okay."

Although a social atmosphere has settled where large-scale dinners or year-end gatherings are either not planned or canceled due to the rapid increase in new COVID-19 cases, it is common to see people avoiding entertainment districts and choosing independent spaces to celebrate the year-end. Motels or pensions are often booked, and 'party room' businesses aiming to absorb this demand are thriving. While some believe this is better than extravagant year-end parties, there are critical views that, since people gather regardless, it does not help with infection control.

At around 3 p.m. on the 12th, six university students carrying bags filled with food boarded the Airport Railroad heading to Yeongjongdo. They said they were having a year-end gathering at a pension on Yeongjongdo. University student Kim said, "Bars around campus close early and are crowded, so the risk of infection is high," adding, "We plan to stay inside the pension room together for two days, so I think it's fine." That same night, six young people in their twenties were drinking and dancing at a party room in Sinchon. They rented a party room equipped with karaoke machines for the day because they regretted canceling their annual high school year-end reunion. Jung (27) explained, "Not only us, but many friends around us also have year-end parties in party rooms," adding, "The trend is to quietly spend the year-end with a small number of people."

Year-end party (Photo by Getty Images Bank)

Party rooms are either accommodations that have decorated several internal rooms for specific purposes or specialized party room establishments. They are equipped with karaoke machines, game consoles, photo zones, and more. One party room operator said, "Reservations have increased by dozens compared to last year's year-end season."

Home parties, where people invite acquaintances to their homes for year-end gatherings, are also popular. Office worker Kim hosted friends at his apartment in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, last weekend. University student Lee said, "My friend's parents are away for the weekend, so we plan to have a year-end party there with friends."

However, as COVID-19 cases surge and concerns about 'asymptomatic infection' grow, experts advise refraining from face-to-face gatherings, even small ones. Professor Jeon Byung-yul of CHA University School of Medicine said, "People seem reassured by the idea that they can meet without contact with unspecified others, but in reality, it's not much different from having a year-end party at a restaurant," adding, "Even in small gatherings, if one person is infected, there is definitely a possibility of a cluster infection."

From this perspective, non-face-to-face (untact) year-end parties using digital devices are considered a good alternative. Office worker Song Hyun-joon agreed with friends to meet online via 'Zoom' at the end of the year. Each person prepares food and drinks at home and gathers in front of their computers in pajamas. Having seen internet broadcast BJs holding online dinners, he has been familiar with such meetings since last fall. Hong, who got married a few months ago, is also planning an online housewarming party with acquaintances next week. He plans to pre-record a video showing his newlywed home and chat while drinking wine in their respective rooms.

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