[With Corona Era] 'With Corona' Has Begun, But There Are Frowns Everywhere

<Part 1>People Still Struggling Despite With-Corona Policy

Self-Employed Subject to Quarantine Pass "Worried About Sales Decline Due to Disputes"
Sports Facility Workers Protest Against Vaccine Pass
Compensation Issues for Excluded Sectors Remain a Challenge

Starting from the 1st of next month, a 'Vaccine Pass' is scheduled to be implemented. It will apply to multi-use facilities such as indoor sports centers, karaoke rooms, and bathhouses, as well as infection-vulnerable facilities like hospitals and nursing homes. Only those who have completed vaccination or possess a negative test certificate will be allowed to use these facilities. A scene from an indoor sports center in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 29th. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] "Actually, the number of customers has decreased even more."

Heo Dong-hak (52, pseudonym), who runs a public bathhouse in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, has become more worried since the 'With Corona' policy was implemented. Bathhouse businesses were classified as high-risk facilities for COVID-19, making it impossible to enter without a vaccination certificate, a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) negative test result, or documents proving exemption from the vaccine pass. Explaining these circumstances to each customer visiting the bathhouse is also a burden. Since many elderly customers visit the bathhouse, there have already been several disputes over the vaccination certificate and negative test requirement (vaccine pass). Heo said, "Many are not familiar with smartphones, so very few prepare the documents in advance," and added, "Many leave after coming all the way to the bathhouse, so sales seem to have dropped more than before With Corona."

From the 1st, the streets came alive for the first time in a while due to the transition to With Corona. Self-employed people said, "We can finally live a little," and kept their shops open late for the first time in a while, with voices of relief erupting here and there. Even in this atmosphere, there are still those who cannot smile. Indoor sports facilities such as gyms and bowling alleys, as well as entertainment venues and saunas, where the vaccine pass has been introduced, have strong complaints. The government has regulated that these facilities cannot be accessed without a vaccine pass, judging that they pose a high risk of COVID-19 infection.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Korea Indoor Sports Facilities Federation, which gathers workers from sports facilities, held a 'Protest Against the Introduction of Vaccine Pass for Indoor Sports Facilities' in front of the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido on the afternoon of the 3rd. They stated, "We have been subject to business restrictions and gathering bans, but the meager support funds, less than half of the monthly rent, were all we received, and for two years we have been labeled as 'high-risk facilities,' hindering our business," urging the introduction of effective and equitable quarantine measures.

Jin Young-ha (37, pseudonym), who runs a gym in Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, "Since the introduction of the vaccine pass, we have been flooded with calls from members who want to temporarily stop exercising or request refunds," adding, "Many young people have not yet completed vaccination, so who would come while having to get tested every other day?"

After many twists and turns, compensation for losses to self-employed people has also begun, but the issue of compensation for those excluded from losses remains a challenge. It is expected that collective actions by workers in industries excluded from compensation, such as lodging and exhibition businesses, which suffered business damages, will continue.

Those who cannot get vaccinated for various reasons are equally frustrated. Office worker Kim Ki-han (33) said, "I have delayed vaccination because I had an adverse reaction to another vaccine in the past, and because of that, it is difficult to visit my parents in a nursing facility."

Concerns remain about whether another resurgence will occur while COVID-19 has not ended. The quarantine authorities also anticipate an increase in infections around the time of With Corona and 'Halloween Day.' As of the 3rd, the number of new COVID-19 cases was 2,667, more than 1,000 higher than the previous day. The government plans to implement a three-step easing of quarantine standards at six-week intervals. However, if the number of confirmed cases increases, the recovery of daily life may be suspended again.

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