[COVID-19 Mask Shortage] Pharmacists Growing Increasingly Distressed

Buyer Resident Registration Number Input
Mask '1 Person 2 Pieces' Repackaging
Extensive Manual Work Causes Operational Paralysis

400 Won Profit Per Piece
Higher Labor and Commission Costs
But Sold with a Spirit of Service

[Asia Economy Reporters Byungdon Yoo, Jeongyun Lee] "I think of it as volunteer work when selling, but...."

At a pharmacy in Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, visited on the 11th, pharmacist Yang Mo (71) sighed first when asked for an interview. Yang said, "Since last weekend, I've been so busy with masks that I haven't had time for anything else."

Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the government-introduced public masks have become a source of dissatisfaction not only for consumers but also for pharmacists. Consumers cannot obtain them, and pharmacists face increased workloads. The 245 public masks prepared at Yang’s pharmacy sold out within two hours that day. Although they sell quickly, repackaging is cumbersome because each mask company has different packaging units, and they have to repackage to sell two per person.

So, do public masks help pharmacy sales? Masks are supplied to pharmacies at 1,100 KRW per piece through distributors. The consumer price is 1,500 KRW. A sales margin of 400 KRW per mask results in about 100,000 KRW daily profit per pharmacy. However, pharmacists agree that after deducting labor costs, card fees, taxes, and rent, there is virtually no profit. Moreover, they must spend considerable time entering buyers’ resident registration numbers one by one to prevent duplicate purchases and individually repack masks supplied in packs of 5 to 10.

If public mask sales are recorded as revenue, pharmacies will also face tax issues. Pharmacist Jang Youngju (33, pseudonym) said, "I sell masks thinking of it as volunteer work, but I worry more about the future," adding, "Other sales are gradually decreasing, and I am concerned about how much tax will be imposed."

Given this situation, the Ministry of Economy and Finance is reportedly considering income tax relief measures for profits from public mask sales. A ministry official explained, "There have been inquiries from the National Assembly, and we are reviewing how to provide tax support," adding, "No specific plan has been finalized yet."