[Report] "Do you have masks?" From Sold Out to Available, Pharmacists Breathe a Sigh of Relief

Seoul Pharmacies: "Mask 5-Day Rotation System Makes Mask Distribution Easier"
"Now We Can Focus on Our Pharmacist Duties... Feeling Like the Worst Is Over" with Bright Smiles
Total Mask Production and Imports Up 51% Compared to 3 Weeks Ago

At around 10 a.m. on the 31st, a notice stating that public masks are sold was posted on the entrance door of a pharmacy in Seoul. / Photo by Min Jun-young, intern reporter mjy7051@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, Intern Reporters Lim Ju-hyung and Min Jun-young] "It seems the difficult times have passed."

At 10 a.m. on the 31st, the so-called pharmacy street in Jongno 5-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, where many pharmacies are clustered, appeared quiet. On that day, pharmacies near Jongno were selling masks with signs that read "Public masks are being sold."

Unlike two weeks ago when signs saying "No mask stock available" were posted less than an hour after sales began, the atmosphere was somewhat relaxed.

To calm the "mask crisis" that arose after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the government has been implementing the "Mask 5-Day Rotation System" since the 9th of this month. Pharmacists unanimously said, "Since the system has settled, mask sales have become easier."

On the 5th, the government announced the "Mask Supply Stabilization Measures" to stabilize the soaring demand for masks due to COVID-19 concerns and to distribute them fairly to the public.

The policy included limiting mask purchases to two masks per person per week based on birth year under the Mask 5-Day Rotation System, and expanding the mandatory public supply of masks from 50% to 80%, among other measures.

Domestic mask production and imports have also increased. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, total mask production and imports in the fourth week of March (23rd?29th) reached 110.6 million units, a 51% (37.51 million units) increase compared to the supply of 73.09 million units in the first week (2nd?8th). As a result, the number of public masks delivered to pharmacies increased, allowing for more flexibility in mask distribution.

A pharmacy located in Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul, visited on the morning of the 31st. It shows a quiet scene. Photo by Min Jun-young, intern reporter mjy7051@asiae.co.kr

At Boryeong Pharmacy, public mask sales start every day at 9 a.m. Nam Soon-pil, the head of Boryeong Pharmacy, who worked for about an hour that day, said, "Mask sales are proceeding smoothly," emphasizing, "Although there are still occasional lines, it has clearly improved compared to before the 5-Day Rotation System."

Nam explained, "When the Mask 5-Day Rotation System was first implemented, our pharmacy received about 200 masks per day, but now about 500 masks are stocked. With more supply, mask distribution has become easier. Also, customers have adapted to the system and strictly follow the rule of two masks per person."

He added, "Pharmacists have also become accustomed to mask distribution, increasing work efficiency. Previously, people would line up 30 minutes early to buy two masks, but now lining up is almost nonexistent."

Before the Mask 5-Day Rotation System was established, customers visiting to buy masks surged, causing various difficulties. Some pharmacists suffered from customers' loud complaints and disputes.

A pharmacy located in Jongno 5-ga, Seoul, ran out of masks as soon as sales began around 7 a.m. on the 5th, when the mask 5-day rotation system was first implemented. / Photo by Asia Economy DB

A pharmacist identified as A from a pharmacy in Jongno, who has worked as a pharmacist for 10 years, said, "Fights frequently broke out over masks," explaining the difficult situation at the time, "Many customers insisted on getting masks even when it was not their turn."

He continued, "Masks had been out of stock for a long time, but many customers kept demanding masks or came every 10 minutes to ask if masks had been restocked," and lamented, "There were also hoarders who had already bought masks elsewhere but came here to buy more."

Pharmacist A said, "As citizens accepted and adapted to the system, things started to ease," showing a handful of masks and adding, "Now, there are even surplus masks. Quite a lot remained today as well."

Pharmacist B from another pharmacy in Jongno smiled brightly, saying, "Finally, we can focus on our main work instead of masks," and added, "It feels like the worst is over."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun predicted that the domestic mask supply situation would improve further next month. At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 30th, Prime Minister Chung said, "Considering the large-scale MB filter production increase soon to begin, I expect the mask supply difficulties to ease somewhat in April."

He added, "The government has made all-out efforts to expand mask supply, including increasing production of MB filters, the core material for protective masks, supporting process improvements, and securing import volumes," and expressed gratitude to "the executives and employees of several companies who quickly promoted production increases by developing new methods and converting existing production lines."