[Report] "Even Learning from My Child Is Hard"... Elderly Turning to Traditional Markets Amid Department Store and Mart Vaccine Pass Restrictions

Since the 10th, Quarantine Pass Mandatory at Department Stores and Large Marts
Rising Complaints from Elderly over Quarantine Pass Mandate
Government: "Cannot Ignore the Effectiveness of the Quarantine Pass"

Citizens are shopping at Mangwon Market in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Heo Midam damdam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "Traditional markets are cheap and have the scent of real life. I don't even dare to go to the mart because the procedures have become complicated."

On the 13th, Mr. Kim, in his 70s, whom we met at Mangwon Market in Mapo-gu, Seoul, said, "Young people are good at using smartphones and know QR codes well, but for older people like us, making a phone call (Safe Call) is more convenient. Many people don't have smartphones, and those people might not be able to go to marts anymore. What about elderly people living alone? I learned how to authenticate (QR code) from my daughter, but it would be difficult for elderly people living alone to do it by themselves," he said.

He continued, "Traditional markets are more convenient. You can meet people on the way, and you can enter without going through complicated procedures. It feels like the world has changed too much since COVID-19. It has become a harder world for elderly people to live in," he lamented.

Since the 10th, the quarantine pass (vaccination certificate/negative test confirmation) has been applied to large-scale stores such as department stores and large marts, increasing inconvenience for the elderly. While younger people familiar with mobile devices are relatively smooth in QR code authentication, elderly people unfamiliar with smartphones are struggling with the vaccine pass.

Given this situation, some elderly people are shopping at traditional markets, which do not require a separate quarantine pass. Traditional markets are currently excluded from the quarantine pass application.

Seoul Mapo-gu Mangwon Market is bustling with citizens. Photo by Heo Midam damdam@

At around 11 a.m. that day, Mangwon Market was bustling with citizens shopping despite it being a weekday. A banner guiding Safe Call was hung at the market entrance, and inside the market, people wearing masks were crowded around shops to buy goods. Mr. A, a vendor in his 50s selling nuts, said, "This market is always crowded. Both elderly and young people come here a lot. I think it's because it's cheap and has a variety of products."

He added, "I've heard that you have to authenticate with a QR code at marts, but I haven't been there yet because I'm busy. QR code authentication has become mandatory when going to restaurants or cafes, right? People our age find QR code authentication difficult, so it must be even harder for grandfathers and grandmothers."

Mr. Yang, 69, a nearby resident who came to buy fruit, said, "If I have to go to the mart, I usually go with my children. With QR code authentication and the fact that some places use machines instead of cashiers, I feel intimidated whenever I go to the mart. But when I come to the traditional market, there are friendly shop owners, and they often give free extras when you buy something, so I come here a lot." He added, "When I try to authenticate the QR code by myself, I get nervous and stammer."

A citizen is shopping at a butcher shop in Mangwon Market, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Heo Midam damdam@

From the 10th, the quarantine pass was introduced in large-scale stores with an area of 3,000㎡ or more, such as department stores, large marts, and bookstores. Accordingly, users must authenticate their vaccination completion by QR code or show a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) negative certificate issued by a health center to enter large-scale stores. Unvaccinated people or those whose quarantine pass has expired cannot use large-scale stores alone.

Small stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, and traditional markets are not subject to the quarantine pass. The quarantine pass is currently operated as a guidance period to avoid on-site confusion, and fines will be imposed for violations starting from the 17th.

However, some point out that traditional markets, where many people gather, are environments where COVID-19 can spread as easily as large marts or department stores.

A netizen who runs a restaurant recently posted on Korea's largest self-employed community 'Because It's Hard, I'm a Boss' that "the COVID-19 quarantine measures are somewhat absurd. Now marts also require quarantine pass authentication. But anyone can go to traditional markets, which are even more crowded. Some places selling food at five-day markets don't require a quarantine pass at all," he criticized.

He added, "Are the regulations on unvaccinated people, such as quarantine passes and vaccination, really constitutional in South Korea? It's very frustrating. How far will this go before it ends?"

Meanwhile, the government continues to emphasize the necessity of the quarantine pass. On the 11th, Park Hyang, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, said, "Although the quarantine pass alone has not produced absolute results in reducing the spread, its effect cannot be ignored. Israel and Denmark are also using the system by strengthening the quarantine pass while monitoring the trend of confirmed cases," he said.

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