"Among Ourselves It's Okay" Pandemic Loophole Home Party Crowd... What About 'Christmas and New Year'?

Gatherings of 5 or More Banned in Seoul Metropolitan Area from 23rd
As Quarantine Measures Tighten, 'Party Rooms and Hotels' Gain Popularity
Popular Accommodations Already Fully Booked
Travel to Other Regions to Avoid Restrictions

Not directly related to the article (Asia Economy DB)

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] "There’s nothing to worry about when meeting only with people we know."

Seo Mo (27, female), who lives in Seoul, decided to spend this Christmas holiday with her friends. Every year, she has held a Christmas party like an annual event with friends who came to Seoul from their hometowns, and she felt it would be a shame to skip it this year. Due to concerns about COVID-19, she reduced the scale somewhat. They plan to have a 'home party' without going outside at all, sharing food each person brings. The number of attendees was limited to exactly four.

Lee Mo (31), an office worker living in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, plans to spend the last day of this year at a luxury hotel in Busan. He judged that the quarantine measures are relatively looser compared to the metropolitan area, so they could enjoy themselves more comfortably. Including Lee, a total of six people will enjoy a party all night in a room with a swimming pool and watch the sunrise. Lee said, "We’re not going to a crowded place, and since we’re all in one room, there’s not much to worry about," adding, "Since we all know each other, if anyone has any abnormal symptoms, wouldn’t they naturally inform us beforehand?"

From midnight on the 23rd, gatherings of five or more people are banned in the metropolitan area, but loopholes in quarantine measures are emerging here and there. As outdoor activities are restricted, movements to hold year-end gatherings in hotel party rooms, pensions, and homes are being spotted everywhere. The gathering ban applies not only outdoors but also indoors such as housewarmings and year-end parties, but it is practically difficult to check every individual gathering at private homes or hotels.

During the Christmas and New Year holidays, most well-known accommodations are almost fully booked. On social networking services (SNS) and online communities, it is easy to find accommodations such as party rooms and pensions promoting 'year-end parties' and 'private parties.' Many are also planning to avoid the metropolitan area, where special measures are enforced, by traveling to other regions to spend Christmas and the New Year holidays.

Voices of criticism toward these people are growing. Because of those who violate quarantine guidelines, COVID-19 spreads, causing harm to those who strictly follow the rules. On the Blue House’s public petition board, petitions have appeared requesting to "suspend the KTX to Gangneung for sunrise viewing" and to "ban access to beaches and coastal areas to prevent crowds gathering for the sunrise." Some also criticize accommodation platform companies and distribution industries for actively promoting home parties, contrary to government policies.

Small gatherings among family or acquaintances also carry the risk of cluster infections. Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Ewha Mokdong Hospital said, "There have been many cases abroad where COVID-19 cluster infections spread through home parties," adding, "People say it’s okay because only acquaintances gather, but in such situations, quarantine rules like mask-wearing tend to be more relaxed than outside, which can be even more dangerous."

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