"This Chuseok, I Can't Go Home Either"... Giving Up Visiting Hometown Due to COVID-19 Spread

Job Seekers Also Avoid "Failing Exams"
76% Say "Resting at Home with Family"

At Seoul Station KTX, citizens are only using window seats. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Kim (31), an office worker living in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, gave up visiting his hometown early ahead of this Chuseok holiday. With COVID-19 cases continuing to emerge, he is worried about visiting Gwangju with his son who is not even a year old yet. He said, "I want to show my well-growing child to my parents and meet friends in my hometown, but health comes first," adding, "I think now is the time to look forward to next time."

The number of people giving up returning home for the Chuseok holiday is increasing. Since social distancing measures of level 3 or higher have been implemented in most regions nationwide, it has also been difficult to meet acquaintances in groups.

Those who have given up returning home, called 'Gwipojok' (people who gave up returning home), plan to spend the holiday 'staying at home.' Office worker Kim Hee-young (36) said, "To go to my hometown, I would have to use public transportation for over three hours, and I gave up visiting because I was worried about getting infected myself or possibly transmitting it to my parents," adding, "Spending the holiday watching YouTube or Netflix at home is not bad either."

Job seekers preparing for employment exams also say they will refrain from traveling as much as possible during this holiday. If infected with COVID-19, they could jeopardize exams they have prepared for months or even years. Lee (26), a senior at a university in the Seoul metropolitan area, said, "Since I have not been vaccinated yet, I am at high risk of contracting COVID-19, so I will stay in my Seoul dorm to catch up on studying during Chuseok," adding, "If I test positive, it would be a setback for my studies, so I plan to be very cautious."

According to a survey conducted by the online shopping mall TMON on Chuseok holiday plans, 76% of 600 customers responded that they would "rest at home with family." This was followed by "self-development and hobbies" (10%) and "visiting relatives" (8%). Additionally, when asked "Who do you plan to spend the holiday with?" 53% of respondents answered immediate family, while 20% and 17% said they would "not meet anyone" and "minimize meetings," respectively.

Experts emphasize that the COVID-19 situation during this Chuseok holiday is different from previous holidays. Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Ewha Mokdong Hospital explained, "Unlike past Chuseok or Lunar New Year holidays, the Delta variant is spreading this time, so staying at home is even more necessary," adding, "Avoiding hometown visits is best, and if you are going to travel where you might come into contact with many unspecified people, it is better to return home instead." The government plans to review Chuseok quarantine measures considering the spread. Following last year, train ticket sales for the Chuseok holiday will prioritize window seats, and the sale of remaining seats will be decided based on the epidemic situation.

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