Unprecedented Christmas Amid COVID-19... Some Engage in Deviant Behavior During the 'Silent Night'

Christmas Quiet in Various Downtown Areas Unlike Previous Years
Crowds May Gather at Some Places from Night
Deviant Behaviors Also Occur Around Christmas

As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) increases and strict social distancing measures are being implemented, the streets around Gangnam Station in Seoul appeared quiet on the 24th, a day before Christmas. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] As the government implements special measures to strengthen COVID-19 prevention in preparation for Christmas and the year-end holidays, this Christmas is expected to pass in an unusually quiet atmosphere. On the other hand, various violations, such as defying gathering bans and continuing business operations or not complying with quarantine rules around Christmas, are also occurring one after another.

On Christmas Day, the 25th, most downtown areas in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi, showed a noticeable decrease in crowds. Places that would normally be bustling with people were visibly quiet. Most events held at cathedrals and churches to celebrate Christmas were conducted online. So far, the Christmas atmosphere remains relatively calm, but there is a possibility that some places may become crowded as usual from the night when the Christmas spirit deepens. Some indoor locations, such as large shopping malls, are beginning to show signs of becoming crowded as people gradually gather. Some popular restaurants and accommodations are already fully booked for the day.

In fact, on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, the day before, there were quite a few people gathered in downtown Seoul and other busy dining areas in the metropolitan area, although not at usual levels. Toy stores were also crowded with customers buying gifts for their children.

Cases of violating quarantine rules or administrative orders around Christmas are also being reported one after another. On the first day of the administrative order, the 23rd, six teenagers drinking together at an apartment in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, were caught by the police. One of them was booked on charges of damaging public property after breaking the police station door in protest against the police's order to wear a mask while being taken for investigation.

On Christmas Eve, the 24th, citizens are looking at Christmas decorations at Namdaemun Market in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

On the 22nd, a nightclub in Songpa-gu, Seoul, was caught secretly operating, and a total of 27 people, including the owner, nine employees, and 17 customers, were booked for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. Similar cases continue to emerge nationwide.

There are also signs of attempts to hold gatherings of five or more people or crowded parties. On some nightlife-related online communities and open chat rooms, posts appeared before Christmas suggesting to avoid the metropolitan area and hold parties in regions with relatively lax quarantine measures or looking for people to meet and hang out together. Controversy arose when it was revealed that someone presumed to be a club MD (sales staff) sent a KakaoTalk message to an unspecified number of people stating, "The club will be open in Yangyang for three days starting from Christmas Eve, the 24th."

In the metropolitan area, including Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi, an administrative order banning private gatherings of five or more people has been in effect from the 23rd until January 3 of next year. This measure was expanded to restaurants nationwide from the 24th. Winter sports facilities have also been closed, and famous sunrise viewing spots nationwide are scheduled to be temporarily closed. The government plans to curb the spread of COVID-19 as much as possible with these special quarantine measures.

Meanwhile, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, the number of new COVID-19 cases recorded at midnight on Christmas Day was 1,241. This is the highest number since the first domestic COVID-19 case was confirmed on January 20.

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