"Sad but Okay" New Year's Eve Bell, 'Online Bell Ringing' Citizens... Mixed Feelings of Regret and Expectation [Reporter Han Goes]

This Year's 'Jeya's Bell Ringing Event' Held Online
Civilians Express 'Regret' but Acknowledge COVID-19 Concerns as 'Unavoidable'
"My New Year's Wish Is for COVID-19 to Finally End Next Year"

Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul. This bell was originally cast during the reign of King Sejo as the bell of Wongaksa Temple. In 1536 (31st year of King Jungjong), it was moved inside Namdaemun, and in 1597 (30th year of King Seonjo), it was relocated to Myeongrye-dong Hill. During the reign of King Gwanghaegun, the bell pavilion was restored and the bell was moved again. Since 1895 (32nd year of King Gojong), when the plaque reading "Bosingak" was hung on the bell pavilion, the bell has also been called the Bosingak Bell. The bell pavilion was damaged during the Korean War and was rebuilt in 1953, then restored again as a two-story bell pavilion in 1980. Photo by Han Seunggon hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "It's unfortunate because of COVID-19, but there's nothing we can do." "I hope COVID disappears next year."

The bell-ringing event, which began in 1953, has established itself as an indispensable year-end tradition where families, couples, and friends hold hands and make New Year's wishes. However, this year’s event was canceled due to COVID-19 prevention guidelines. The bell-ringing scenes shown today (31st) on Seoul City's YouTube and public broadcasting are cross-edited footage from past events, leading to feelings of regret among citizens.

A man in his 40s, Mr. Kim, a company employee met near Bosingak in Jongno, Seoul, said, "It's really disappointing. Still, hearing the New Year's Eve bell once makes you feel like you are sending off the old year and welcoming the new one, so it's a bit sad." He added, "But since we have to maintain social distancing because of COVID, there's nothing we can do." He emphasized, "I hope COVID ends quickly next year."

A college student in his 20s, Mr. Lee, said, "I haven't participated in the bell-ringing event every year, but the 'online bell-ringing' is a bit disappointing." He continued, "Still, since I can watch it on video, I'm satisfied with that," and said, "I hope to get a job next year and, above all, that COVID disappears."

There were also opinions hoping that next year's bell-ringing event would be held properly. Mr. Park, a worker in his 50s, said, "This year, we couldn't do anything because of COVID, but next year, I hope we can travel and hold the bell-ringing event as usual." He added, "Especially, it seems that small business owners are having a hard time, so I hope they stay strong."

An information sign hung around Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 30th. This year's 'New Year's Eve Bell Ringing Ceremony' will be held online due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

As the 'New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing Event' has changed to an 'online bell-ringing event' showing only video today (31st), unlike previous years, there will be no extended bus or subway operations or road closures around Bosingak for the crowds attending the event.

However, Seoul City stated, "We expect some citizens to gather around Bosingak on this day and will operate a safety task force to prevent crowding, stop the spread of COVID-19, and protect cultural assets."

Also, the video today includes support messages. The support video features actors Lee Jung-jae, Kim Young-chul, Park Jin-hee, broadcasters Kwanghee, Kim Tae-gyun, as well as small business owners, job seekers, musical actors, teachers, and students.

On December 31st last year, citizens filling the area in front of Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, are waiting for the New Year's Eve bell-ringing event.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Bosingak New Year's Eve Bell-Ringing Event, hosted by Seoul City, began in 1953. General public participation started in 1986. In 1993, to celebrate Seoul's population surpassing 11 million, a record 110 people participated in the bell-ringing. The oldest participant was Mr. Jeon Bang-yi, aged 102 in 1999, and the youngest was Ms. Kim Sun-hee, aged 11 in 1994.

So far, non-human participants include the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics mascots Soohorang and Bandabi in 2018, and Pengsoo in 2019.

Seoul Mayor Acting Mayor Seo Jeong-hyeop said, "The stage for the bell-ringing event, which has been held without interruption since 1953, must move from Bosingak to online, but the wish for everyone's health and well-being resonates even more deeply."

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