[Report] "I'm Really Dying, 'Level 4 Social Distancing'..."...Self-Employed Business Owners 'Stunned and Desperate'

"Even after working all day, no first sales"
Streets are empty even during meal times, stores are quiet
Health authorities: "Entering the 4th wave... Please actively participate in quarantine measures"

At 12 noon on the 8th, the 'Kondae Food Street' in Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] "I've been running a business here for 30 years, but this is the first time I've seen so few people."

As COVID-19 spreads nationwide again, self-employed business owners have been hit hard. On the afternoon of the 8th, Mr. A, in his 70s, who has been selling socks and other miscellaneous goods near Konkuk University Station for 30 years, sighed and shook his head.

As of that day, the number of new COVID-19 cases exceeded 1,000 for the third consecutive day. With the rapid increase in confirmed cases, the streets of Konkuk University, which should have been crowded with people in their 20s and 30s as well as office workers, were empty.

Street vendors seeking shade at the entrances of buildings near the station all said in unison, "We are about to starve to death." Mr. B, who was constantly fanning himself, said, "These days, even if I stay out all day, I can't make a single sale. Yesterday, I only earned 3,000 won," lamenting the decreased income. Mr. C, who has been selling fruit at the same spot for 23 years, sighed, "Business is so bad that all the plums are about to rot."

Store-owning self-employed business owners are in the same situation. A cafe known as a "hot place in Konkuk University" with exotic interior design laid off six part-time workers this year.

Mr. D, the owner of this cafe, lamented, "Since opening in March last year, business has never been good." He said, "Whenever business starts to pick up after COVID-19, the spread worsens," adding, "Right now, we can't even cover labor costs." When asked if he received the small business disaster relief fund, Mr. D said, "Thankfully, I did receive it. But the monthly rent alone is 5 million won, and that money isn't enough..." trailing off.

During the one hour the reporter stayed at the cafe, the only people who entered were delivery workers bringing food supplies. In the quiet store with no customers, the only sound was the clicking of Mr. D's mouse as he worked on his laptop.

Mr. E, who runs a barbecue restaurant, also worried, "Business is so bad, it's a big problem. If there are this few people during meal times, all businesses will die." The restaurant was empty despite it being lunchtime.

A banner put up by the Street Vendors Association near Konkuk University Station is fluttering in the wind. Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@

People visiting Konkuk University also seemed surprised by the unusually empty streets. A group of graduate students passed by saying, "There really are no people. Should we start bringing lunch boxes too? It's such a hassle." Ms. Jung and Ms. Han, women in their 20s who came to eat lunch at Konkuk University, said, "It's been a long time since we've seen so few people here," adding, "We just want to eat quickly and go home."

The expectations of self-employed business owners, which had ballooned with the government's easing of social distancing measures, were shattered in an instant by the spread of the Delta variant. On the 20th of last month, the quarantine authorities announced a new social distancing plan, stating they would ease restrictions such as increasing the number of people allowed to gather and extending operating hours for multi-use facilities.

However, with COVID-19 resurging mainly around Yeouido and Hongdae, the number of new daily cases reached 1,039 as of 6 p.m. that day. Among them, 839 cases (80.8%) were from the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon.

Self-employed business owners are anxiously hoping that the Level 4 social distancing measures will not be implemented. If Level 4 is enforced, gatherings will be limited to two people after 6 p.m. Clubs, nightclubs, hunting pubs, and emotional pubs will be banned from gathering. This effectively means evening gatherings will be impossible.

Around 7 p.m. on the 8th at 'Kondae Mat-ui Street'. Despite being evening, the area appears quiet. Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@

Given the situation, some voices criticize the government's premature easing of social distancing. Mr. F, the owner of a Chinese restaurant, said, "I had some hope when they said they would ease the measures, but everything is ruined," adding, "If Level 4 happens, I'll have to close the business, what else can I do?" A nearby shop owner criticized, "When the spread was calm, the government should have tightened the quarantine measures firmly to eradicate it. They kept wavering and being lenient, and now we've come to this."

Some understand the government's position in attempting to ease restrictions. One citizen said, "Since all the self-employed were complaining about dying, they eased the measures a bit, but who could have known it would flare up like this again?"

As dusk fell, people who finished work began gathering at Konkuk University. Although it was not crowded enough to be bustling, more and more people started taking seats at restaurants, bars, and cafes.

However, self-employed business owners could not hide their disappointment. When the reporter said, "It seems business picks up quite a bit in the evening," the owner of a samgyeopsal (pork belly) restaurant waved his hand, saying, "Compared to usual, it's nothing." A man in his 40s who went to a bar with his coworkers said, "I came to Konkuk University last week too, but it seems there are fewer people now than then."

Meanwhile, the government and quarantine authorities view the current situation as the entry stage of the fourth wave and plan to tighten quarantine measures again. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said on the 7th, "If the situation is not controlled within 2 to 3 days, we may have to take the strongest possible social distancing measures." The government is expected to announce adjustments to social distancing levels for the metropolitan area on the morning of the 9th.

They also requested citizens to actively participate in quarantine efforts. Director Jeong Eun-kyung of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said that day, "To quickly suppress the current wave, which started with a rapid increase in the metropolitan area including Seoul and Gyeonggi, and to reduce overall social sacrifice, a united pause from our citizens is desperately needed once again," urging individuals to strengthen personal quarantine measures.

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