[Those Fighting the Cold Wave] Temporary Clinic Medical Staff: "The Only Support We Have Is a Hot Pack" (Comprehensive)

Medical Staff Dedicated to Care Despite Cold Wave
Container-Type Break Room Cold Enough to Freeze Water Bottles
Worker Says, "More Support Personnel Needed"

On the morning of the 9th, at the temporary screening clinic in the Peace Gate Plaza of Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul. Medical staff are busily moving to ensure smooth testing amid the cold weather.

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Suhwan and Ryu Taemin] Around 10:30 a.m. on the 9th at the Peace Gate Plaza in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul. On this day, Seoul’s temperature dropped to minus 16.6 degrees Celsius, prompting a cold wave advisory. Despite the severe cold, the temporary screening clinic was packed with citizens who came for testing. The line of citizens waiting started 30 minutes before the testing began and extended all the way to the subway station entrance.

Due to the cold weather, most people had their hoods pulled over their heads or had their hands in their pockets, stamping their feet to keep warm. Medical staff wearing protective suits were busy guiding citizens on the testing procedures and social distancing rules. Occasionally, when there were no waiting citizens, the medical staff could be seen warming their frozen hands near heaters to fend off the cold.

"It’s very cold and tough, but we endure it because someone has to do this work." Park Cheol (51), a reserve forces squad leader whom we met at this COVID-19 temporary screening clinic, responded this way when asked if it was difficult. Although he smiled, his face showed signs of fatigue.

◆ Workers and Citizens "You’re doing a great job" Express Mutual Concern = The workers were concerned about the citizens visiting the site. A worker dispatched from the reserve forces training support unit said, "We can warm ourselves inside the tent when there aren’t many people, but the citizens don’t even have a heater to warm their hands and feet."

Citizens visiting the site were also worried about the medical staff and workers. Kim (28), an office worker who came for testing, said, "I’m concerned that the medical staff work every day in such severe cold," adding, "I hope they take good care of their health."

On the morning of the 9th, medical staff are preparing for testing in a tent set up at the Temporary Screening Clinic at the Peace Gate Plaza in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, ahead of the start of operations.

Around the same time, at a temporary clinic in Hangang Park near the southern end of Seogang Bridge, Yeouido, Seoul. The heater installed inside the tent was insufficient to block the cold wind from the Han River. A public official who has been working there for four weeks said, "It’s true that it’s cold, but I work with the thought that I’m helping citizens who are struggling due to COVID-19."

◆ "One Hot Pack Is Not Enough to Endure... Additional Personnel Needed" = The only place where medical staff could take a break from the cold was a small container behind the clinic. In the lunch break room, medical staff were seen relying on a single hot pack to get through their meals. Choi Youngbeom (50), an administrator from Yeongdeungpo District Office whom we met there, said, "We are barely getting by with just hot packs and one heater." Workers were melting frozen water bottles with the heater inside the container.

A container-type break room for personnel working at the temporary clinic under Seogang Bridge in Yeouido

Along with citizens’ complaints, the severe cold has drained the medical staff’s stamina. Staff member B, who has been working at the Yeongdeungpo Health Center screening clinic for nearly a year, sighed, saying, "All I can say is that it’s really tough." He added, "Additional personnel support is needed so that the medical staff can reduce their physical burden." A citizen, exhausted from waiting in the cold that day, complained, "I’m freezing to death. How long do we have to wait?"

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