In This Situation, 70 Gather for a 'Drinking Party'... Are Citizens Tired of Social Distancing? Multiple Violations of Quarantine Rules Reported

Avoiding Crackdowns, Drinking Party... Includes Self-Quarantine Subjects
Experts "Not a Gradual Decline... Need to Strengthen Awareness"

As the COVID-19 pandemic prolongs, in some areas, people are violating quarantine rules by holding 'drinking parties' to evade crackdowns, raising concerns about infection risks. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis has prolonged, more citizens are expressing frustration over social distancing measures. In some areas, violations of quarantine rules have occurred, such as holding 'drinking parties' to evade crackdowns, raising concerns that vigilance toward social distancing may be waning.

Experts emphasize that the current number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea cannot be seen as a gradual decline, and caution should not be relaxed.

According to the Busan Metropolitan Police Agency, at around 2:55 a.m. on the 3rd, police caught business owners and customers holding a drinking party until dawn at a club-style pub located in the basement level 1 of a building in Bujeon-dong, Jin-gu, Busan.

The police responded to a report stating "loud music is coming from the basement" and upon visiting the establishment, confirmed that about 70 customers were playing music and drinking until dawn.

It was reported that the business owner attracted customers through social networking services (SNS), and among the apprehended customers, some were under COVID-19 self-quarantine orders. They reportedly showed meticulousness in their illegal activities, such as stationing a doorman at the entrance to avoid detection.

Meanwhile, on the 27th of last month in Daegu, about 20 foreigners of Thai nationality and around 30 Koreans were caught by police while holding a drinking party at a nightlife pub.

This establishment was found to have operated an unlicensed club-style nightlife pub by turning off the signboard lights and locking the doors during early morning hours, serving only reserved customers. At the time of the raid, they were sitting closely together under flashy lights, and most were not properly wearing masks.

On the 4th, citizens are commuting to work for the first time in the New Year of the Year of the Ox at Gwanghwamun Intersection in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

As the COVID-19 crisis has prolonged and social distancing has continued for nearly a year, cases of violating quarantine rules have been occurring repeatedly in various places. Consequently, some citizens who are adhering to the rules express feelings of frustration.

Office worker Kim (27) said, "The vaccine hasn't even been released yet, and COVID-19 infections are erupting everywhere, but seeing people not following social distancing and even holding drinking parties in enclosed spaces makes me furious. For the sake of struggling self-employed people and many others affected by COVID-19, isn't it still a time to refrain from gatherings?"

Some argue that citizens' vigilance has loosened ahead of next year's vaccine rollout.

Another office worker in his 30s, Park, said, "Social distancing and wearing masks are frustrating and tiresome, so people seem to have lost patience and come outside. Since vaccines will be available soon, there is hope that the COVID-19 era will end, and honestly, vigilance has weakened compared to before."

However, the domestic COVID-19 situation is still not safe. Over the three days from the 1st to the 3rd, new confirmed cases dropped from the 1,000s to the 800s and then to the mid-600s, but this is likely due to fewer tests conducted during the holiday period compared to weekdays.

Cluster infections continue to occur in everyday settings such as churches, logistics centers, and gatherings of acquaintances, and the spread related to nursing hospitals and senior health centers remains serious. Additionally, the highly transmissible UK-origin 'variant virus' is spreading worldwide, indicating it is too early to lower vigilance.

The government stressed that although the surge with daily cases exceeding 1,000 is gradually easing, it is still not a stage to be complacent.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 3rd, "Thanks to many citizens participating in the year-end and New Year’s strengthened quarantine special measures, quarantine indicators are gradually improving," but added, "There are still many daily changes and great uncertainty. The next two weeks are a critical period to achieve definite stability," urging continued caution.

He continued, "As you have done well so far, I ask the public to endure a little longer and take the lead in 'participatory quarantine.' The fight against COVID-19, which has become more transmissible in winter, is ultimately a race against time," he emphasized.

Experts diagnose that the current number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea cannot be seen as a gradual decline.

Professor Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital, said, "After a year of social distancing and constantly changing quarantine policies, public fatigue has increased. However, since vaccination has not yet started, it is premature to conclude that the situation is under control," and stressed, "Although new cases are decreasing, it cannot be judged as a gradual decline, so quarantine rules such as social distancing must be followed."

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