"From Kids to No Masks"…When Will Indoor Mask Mandates Be Lifted?

Indoor 'No Mask' Period Likely Next Spring
"Masks, Meal Refusal, etc. Also Negatively Affect Youth Identity Formation"
Health Authorities Consider Starting with Low-Risk Outdoor No Mask Areas

On the morning of August 16, when some elementary schools in the Incheon area reopened, students were greeting their teacher and entering school one by one at the back gate of an elementary school in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] As discussions begin on the necessity of lifting the indoor mask mandate, concerns have been raised that masks may negatively affect children's language and social development. Consequently, there are calls for the urgent removal of the indoor mask mandate in daycare centers and elementary schools.

Experts have stated that a phased approach should be discussed regarding the lifting of mask-wearing. On the 19th, Jeong Jae-hoon, a member of the National Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee), said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "The peak of confirmed cases, as well as the peak of critically ill patients and deaths, has almost passed," and argued, "The disadvantages of mask-wearing for children may outweigh the benefits."

Jeong expressed particular concern that masks have caused side effects in early childhood education and development. He said, "While the effectiveness of quarantine policies can be measured, the impact on children cannot be quantified in monetary terms or expressed in numbers," and reiterated, "The disadvantages of mask-wearing for children may outweigh the benefits." He added, "I have also heard from experts in educational settings that many problems are arising, especially in language and facial expressions," and emphasized, "If we set the order for lifting the mask mandate, young children should be the first."

Concerns that mask-wearing negatively affects children's growth and development have been raised before. According to a survey conducted in April by the Civil Society for No Private Education Worries and Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Chun-sook, targeting 1,451 directors, teachers, and parents of public daycare centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province on 'The Impact of COVID-19 on Child Development,' 71.6% of directors and teachers responded that "COVID-19 has affected child development." They identified the biggest impact as "reduced opportunities for language development due to mask use" (74.9%).

A parents' group also filed an administrative lawsuit against the Ministry of Education, requesting that the quarantine authorities change the indoor mask-wearing mandate from a compulsory guideline to a recommendation. The Student-Parent Human Rights Protection Coalition held a press conference on June 27, stating, "Mask-wearing should be changed from mandatory to recommended, leaving it to individual choice," and expressed concerns that "mask-wearing negatively affects children's learning and development. Side effects such as delayed language development, delayed social development, and weakened immunity are emerging due to mask-wearing."

The mask mandate, implemented since October 2020, has also negatively impacted adolescents. A culture has formed where students are extremely reluctant to remove masks, even skipping meals to avoid showing their bare faces. Experts believe that prolonged mask-wearing during adolescence, a critical period for identity formation, may have caused confusion.

On the afternoon of the 12th, the Pok?mon-related event venue set up at the Lotte World Tower Plaza in Songpa-gu, Seoul, was bustling with citizens. [Image source=Yonhap News]

However, the timing for lifting the indoor mask mandate is likely to be next spring. On the 18th, Jeong Ki-seok, chairman of the Advisory Committee, responded to questions about indoor masks in an interview with JoongAng Ilbo, saying, "Masks should not be removed indoors for the time being," and emphasized, "Masks are the strongest quarantine measure and should be maintained until the very end." He added, "At a recent advisory committee meeting, some members proposed lifting masks due to concerns about children's language development, but I firmly opposed it," and stressed, "I believe masks will need to be worn until next spring."

Meanwhile, quarantine authorities are considering easing measures, aiming to transition to a daily response system, including the complete removal of the outdoor mask mandate. In May, the authorities lifted the outdoor mask mandate but required masks at outdoor gatherings of 50 or more people. On the 20th briefing, Park Hye-kyung, head of the Quarantine Support Team at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "Since the risk of infection outdoors is relatively low, lifting the remaining mandates is a situation that can be considered first," and added, "The resurgence caused by the BA.5 variant has passed its peak, and the infection reproduction number remains stable."

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