[On-site Video] "Side Effects Are Scary" Youth Quarantine Pass... What Teenagers Think

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, PD Yoon Jin-geun] "The side effects are scary!", "This doesn’t seem right!"

There is strong opposition from students and parents regarding the youth quarantine pass to be introduced in February next year. On the afternoon of the 6th, students met in a private academy district in Gangnam, Seoul, unanimously expressed negative attitudes toward the government’s plan to expand the 'quarantine pass.' The government stated it will proceed as planned, so conflicts surrounding the quarantine pass are expected to continue for some time.

Youth A (17) criticized, "Allowing access to private academies based on vaccination status is not right." He added, "There are side effects that prevent some from getting vaccinated, and parents also want to observe the situation a bit longer." He emphasized, "I wish the policy would change to provide various benefits to those who are vaccinated instead."

Another student B (17) also expressed discomfort with the quarantine pass. He said, "Requiring vaccination to attend private academies feels like coercion by the government," and "I don’t think anyone around me supports the quarantine pass." He reiterated his opposition, saying, "I hope the regulations are not enforced too coercively."

Youth C (15), who stated he has received the first dose of the vaccine, said, "I oppose (the quarantine pass, etc.) because it can be seen as forced vaccination." He criticized, "There may be people who do not want to get vaccinated due to concerns about possible side effects, and it is not right for a democratic country to regulate them coercively like that."

On the other hand, there are also opinions supporting the quarantine pass. D (74), who said he has a grandchild, stated, "The entire population needs to get vaccinated to overcome COVID-19," but added, "However, exceptions should be made for those with underlying or special medical conditions."

Meanwhile, the government’s announced youth quarantine pass will be implemented from February 1 next year. The quarantine pass will apply to private academies, study rooms, and study cafes, and youths who have not been vaccinated will not be allowed to visit these facilities.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, explained at a non-face-to-face briefing on the 6th, "We are allowing about three more weeks for the vaccination period." He added, "With this amount of grace period, I don’t think there is a need to delay the implementation of the youth quarantine pass beyond February 1 next year."

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