"Let's Drink Alcohol at Lunch" 'Trick Gatherings' Ignoring Quarantine Rules... Citizens Outraged

Health Authorities "Strengthen Quarantine Measures for Year-End and New Year Gatherings"
Restaurants and Bars Prohibited After 9 PM... Citizens Going to Party Rooms
Office Workers "Sometimes Have Lunch Gatherings", "Let's Meet Early to Drink"
Experts "Concern Over COVID-19 Spread... Should Refrain from Gatherings"

Citizens leaving restaurants after 9 PM. Most establishments have closed except for some signs. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "Since we can't play late, we have to gather early and play until 9 p.m."

Despite the government's recommendation to refrain from year-end and New Year gatherings due to the spread of COVID-19, some citizens are holding so-called 'sly gatherings' by meeting early and drinking for a long time, causing problems. As the operating hours of bars and restaurants are restricted until 9 p.m., they start meetings early and finish by 9 p.m. to avoid quarantine guidelines. Experts expressed concern about the increased survival ability of the COVID-19 virus in winter and emphasized refraining from year-end events.

The quarantine authorities have been urging people daily to refrain from face-to-face meetings and unnecessary outings or travel. On the 21st, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun emphasized at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at Seoul City Hall, "Adjusting social distancing levels should be meticulously prepared but should be the last card," adding, "First, special quarantine measures are needed for recently identified vulnerable facilities such as nursing hospitals, nursing facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and ski resorts, and quarantine management should be strengthened for gatherings, parties, religious events, tourism, and travel that increase during Christmas and the year-end and New Year period."

Despite such government recommendations, photos of citizens enjoying year-end events continue to be posted on social networking services (SNS) such as Twitter and Facebook. They prepare year-end parties by renting small party rooms or enjoy 'home parties' by inviting acquaintances to their homes despite the risk of COVID-19 cluster infections.

Meanwhile, some people hold drinking parties from early evening until bars close at 9 p.m. University student Kim (25) said, "Party rooms are already fully booked for the year-end. The only place where we can make reservations is restaurants," adding, "We plan to meet early with acquaintances and leave quickly."

He continued, "I want to suggest postponing the meeting because I'm scared of COVID-19, but I couldn't say it because I was afraid it would harm my relationship with acquaintances," and lamented, "One acquaintance jokingly said, 'Anyway, there are no people in bars now, so it might be safer.'"

Citizens are enjoying a company dinner. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Yonhap News

The situation is similar for office workers. Earlier, the government raised social distancing to level 2.5 in the metropolitan area starting at midnight on the 8th. At this level, working from home is only a 'recommendation.' Therefore, many small and medium-sized enterprises and other companies do not implement work-from-home for various reasons.

As a result, some companies do not feel the seriousness of COVID-19. In particular, some hold small-scale dinners or gatherings, and it is not uncommon to move dinner meetings earlier to lunchtime.

Office worker Lee (27) said, "Although we are told to refrain from dinners because the COVID-19 situation is serious, sometimes dinners are quietly forced with the excuse that 'it's lunchtime, so it's okay,'" adding, "I can't refuse because of my boss's eyes, and I'm worried something serious might happen."

It appears that many office workers attend dinners despite the COVID-19 situation. According to a survey conducted last month by the job portal JobKorea on 659 office workers about dinner meeting status, 22.2% answered, "Yes, we are holding dinners." That means one in five office workers is having dinners.

Consequently, voices expressing concern about cluster infections caused by small gatherings are increasing. On the 3rd, a petition titled "Do we really have to have face-to-face gatherings during the year-end and New Year?" was posted on the Blue House public petition board.

The petitioner, who introduced themselves as a nurse at a large hospital, said, "Having gatherings in the current situation is very dangerous as it can rapidly spread infections," and opened by saying, "Christmas and the year-end are approaching. I think many people are planning warm year-end gatherings, saying 'Let's definitely meet this time' because they have missed meeting due to the COVID-19 situation."

They continued, "However, everyone must safely get through this winter so that when vaccines and treatments currently being developed are introduced next year, we can achieve the hopeful result of 'ending' the pandemic," and appealed, "Please refrain from face-to-face gatherings during the year-end and New Year as much as possible so that everyone can safely get through this winter."

Experts also urged refraining from year-end parties and other gatherings. Professor Kim Woo-joo of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital said, "As the temperature drops, the virus's survival ability strengthens. Also, as it gets colder, more people gather indoors, so the risk of COVID-19 increases in winter," emphasizing, "We need to temporarily change the culture of year-end parties and dinners, and citizens must voluntarily comply with quarantine guidelines such as social distancing."

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