Gathering in Crowds, Taking Group Photos Without Masks... Political and Entertainment Circles Face Backlash for Violating Quarantine Rules

Yoon Seok-yeol Visits 103 Lawmaker Offices with Several Companions
Takes Group Photos 'No Mask' in Entertainment Industry
Expert: "More Contact with Others Requires Stricter Quarantine Compliance"

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who joined the People Power Party, is moving to the meeting room on the morning of the 2nd at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, to visit Party Leader Lee Jun-seok, Floor Leader Kim Ki-hyun, and Supreme Council members. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] As the daily number of new COVID-19 cases in South Korea remains stubbornly above 1,000, controversies have arisen due to repeated violations of quarantine rules in political and entertainment circles.

During these difficult times when the entire nation is struggling with COVID-19, some public figures are being criticized for taking quarantine rules lightly and acting irresponsibly.

Recently, Yoon Seok-yeol, a presidential candidate who joined the People Power Party, personally visited all 103 party offices and lawmakers' offices on the 2nd to greet them upon his entry. However, he was criticized for violating quarantine rules by not submitting prior visit applications during this process.

On the 5th, an online community post titled "Reported Yoon Seok-yeol, former Prosecutor General, and People Power Party Secretariat staff for violating quarantine rules" was uploaded. The author, Mr. A, stated, "Yoon and about 10 secretariat staff members visited 103 lawmakers' offices to greet them, but since they did not notify the visitor information to each office a day in advance, they violated quarantine rules, and I reported this to the Yeongdeungpo District Office."

According to the National Assembly Secretariat's quarantine regulations, when an outsider visits the National Assembly Members' Office Building, they must submit their personal information to the Secretariat and obtain prior approval. Even with approval, movement between floors is restricted.

Mr. A criticized, "It is utterly deplorable that a person aspiring to be the leader of the country did not follow even the basic quarantine rules during the severe situation of the '4th wave of COVID-19'." On the anonymous bulletin board for National Assembly aides, 'Bamboo Forest Next to Yeouido,' a post also criticized Yoon, stating, "If even one among the 10 people was a confirmed COVID-19 case or a close contact, all 103 rooms in the Members' Office Building should be shut down. This was a serious mistake."

In response, Yoon's campaign spokesperson Yoon Hee-seok admitted, "We strictly followed general quarantine rules such as temperature checks and mask-wearing, but since we visited all lawmakers inside the National Assembly, we could not fully comply with the Assembly's floor restrictions and other quarantine rules."

The Yeongdeungpo District Office explained regarding the complaint that Yoon was considered to have held a public gathering and that it was not a violation of quarantine rules. However, they added, "Yeongdeungpo District does not evaluate violations of National Assembly quarantine rules; this is to be judged by the National Assembly."

A photo of comedian Park Suhong's wedding celebration party posted by announcer Choi Eunkyung on her Instagram. The post has since been deleted. / Photo by announcer Choi Eunkyung on Instagram

Violations of quarantine rules have also surfaced earlier in the entertainment industry. Broadcaster Park Soo-hong and 11 fellow entertainers were reported for violating COVID-19 quarantine rules after taking a group photo without wearing masks.

On the 30th of last month, a post was uploaded on an online community stating that the performers in the photo were reported to the Mapo District Office for violating quarantine rules. The author pointed out, "Since the '4th wave' of COVID-19, the metropolitan area still sees over 1,000 new cases daily with no sign of decline. In this serious situation where confirmed cases continue to occur in the broadcasting industry, I think there was a severe lack of awareness."

The announcer Choi Eun-kyung, who posted the controversial group photo on social media, explained, "We all completed self-test kits in front of the studio, immediately wore masks, held a meeting, checked temperatures again before entering the studio, disinfected, and then took the photo."

However, netizens criticized, saying, "Does checking temperature and disinfecting hands mean it's okay to gather without masks?" and "While it's understandable not to wear masks during broadcasting, 11 people did not maintain social distancing."

Experts urged that public figures such as politicians and entertainers, who come into contact with many unspecified people, must strictly adhere to quarantine rules.

Professor Eom Jung-sik, an infectious disease specialist at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, said, "Because some people do not follow quarantine rules, citizens who comply feel disheartened. During the presidential primary season, as election campaigns intensify, gatherings and contacts will become frequent. If quarantine rules are not followed each time, chaotic situations will arise. If confirmed COVID-19 cases occur, serious problems could result."

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