Weekend Crowds Gather... Packed Closely for Shopping and Beer Parties on Mats

A 300m Long Line in Department Store Parking Lot

"Delta Variant Spread Expected to Increase in Densely Populated Seoul Metropolitan Area"

On the afternoon of the 4th, a department store in Gangnam-gu, Seoul was visited. The interior is crowded with people visiting the department store for the weekend. Photo by Jeongyoon Lee leejuyoo@

[Asia Economy Reporters Song Seung-yoon and Lee Jung-yoon] On the afternoon of the 4th, the basement first floor food court of a department store in Gangnam-gu, Seoul was packed with people. Despite the continuous rise in COVID-19 cases nationwide, the department store was crowded with people spending time with their families over the weekend. Most wore masks, but social distancing was ignored. It was easy to see people closely examining display shelves or purchasing groceries shoulder to shoulder. Due to limited space for movement, scenes of people bumping into each other were frequently observed. Kim (35), an office worker who visited the department store that day, said, "I went out because I was tired of staying at home, but I didn’t expect it to be this crowded," adding, "I feel uneasy because the distance between people is so narrow."

On the same day, the entrance to the parking lot of a department store in Namdong-gu, Incheon, had cars lined up for about 300 meters. Traffic around the area was nearly paralyzed due to cars waiting to enter. The parking lot, which spans two basement levels and seven above-ground floors, was mostly full. Some luxury brand stores had waiting lists exceeding 100 people, and cafes and restaurants inside the department store were inaccessible without waiting. A similar scene unfolded around an outlet in Songdo, Incheon, where waiting to park took over 30 minutes. Due to rain throughout the weekend, people crowded indoors, making both the outlet and nearby shopping malls extremely congested.

On the afternoon of the 4th, vehicles were lined up at the entrance of a department store parking lot in Namdong-gu, Incheon. Most of the parking lot, which spans two basement levels and seven above-ground floors, was full. Photo by Seungyun Song kaav@

Earlier, on the 2nd, a large crowd gathered at Ttukseom Resort in Seoul. Visitors spread mats on the asphalt stairs and lawns, drinking beer or sharing delivery food. It was rare to see people conversing while wearing masks. Nearby convenience stores had continuous long lines without pause.

Less regulated non-metropolitan areas showed even more free-spirited scenes. Since the 1st, a new Level 1 social distancing rule has been implemented in non-metropolitan areas, easing private gathering bans as planned and lifting business restrictions on entertainment venues and restaurants. As a result, cases of people from the metropolitan area traveling to non-metropolitan entertainment districts for 'expeditions' have increased.

Around 9 p.m. on the 2nd, people gathered at Ttukseom Riverside Park to enjoy drinking. Photo by Lee Jung-yoon leejuyoo@

Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Respiratory Medicine Department at Ewha Mokdong Hospital pointed out, "The biggest problem is that people have grown tired after the prolonged COVID-19 situation and have become complacent due to vaccination," adding, "With the Delta variant entering the densely populated metropolitan area, the spread is expected to be greater."

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