"2030s Seeking Clubs: 'If Not Seoul, Let's Go to the Provinces' ? Citizens' Frustration and Anger Turn to 'Mockery'"

Itaewon Club 'COVID-19' Local Infection Alert
Government Issues Closure and Gathering Ban Orders for Entertainment Venues
Some 20-30s Youths Travel to Provinces After Visiting Clubs Opened via Group Chats

On the 10th, in a KakaoTalk group chat. As a cluster of COVID-19 cases emerged from a club in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, the government issued a gathering ban order, leading people to seek clubs that have opened in other regions. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) originating from a club in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, has led to confirmed cases not only in Seoul but also in Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Jeju Island, causing the local infection situation to spiral out of control.

Local governments in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and other areas have issued orders banning gatherings at all entertainment facilities. However, some young people are moving to other regions to visit different clubs and entertainment venues, so the COVID-19 infection spreading through entertainment facilities is expected to continue expanding.

On the 10th, a KakaoTalk open chat room was bustling with people looking for clubs that had not yet been ordered to close. Despite the nationwide spread of COVID-19 infections following confirmed cases at Itaewon clubs and the health authorities' emergency response, these individuals showed no concern.

Open chat rooms allow participants to continue conversations without revealing their identities. As a result, participants gather in small groups with the purpose of visiting clubs, frequent entertainment venues, and then disappear, enabling them to continuously visit nightclubs and similar places in a cell-like structure.

A participant identified as A in the chat room asked, "Is there any club open in Gangbuk, Seoul?" inquiring about clubs that were operating or planning to open.

Meanwhile, when B asked, "Is there any place open now?" C responded, "Somewhere in Incheon or Gyeonggi."

Another chat room showed a similar situation. Participants shared information about entertainment venues that were open despite their locations being under gathering ban orders.

D, a participant in the chat room, actively sought open clubs by asking, "Is OO open today?"

At least five clubs that were open were shared in this group chat. Participants continued conversations about clubs, indicating that the gathering ban orders were not effectively enforced.

On the afternoon of the 8th, when additional infections of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred at a club in Itaewon, Seoul, visited by patient number 66 from Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, the government issued an administrative order recommending the suspension of operations for one month at clubs and other entertainment facilities. A temporary closure notice is displayed on the screen in front of a voluntarily closed club in Itaewon, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Summarizing the situation, despite recommendations for social distancing to prevent COVID-19, some young people in their 20s and 30s are ignoring these guidelines and gathering in enclosed spaces to enjoy entertainment.

Citizens expressed discomfort over people visiting clubs even amid the emergency of community infections. A man in his 40s who works said, "It's not that young people are immune, but if the infection spreads, people with weak immune systems are at risk of losing their lives." He added, "The whole country is worried and responding, but it seems like this is being ignored and mocked."

Another self-employed person in their 40s said, "I was hoping the economy would recover as COVID-19 eased, but all those hopes are gone. Who can compensate for this?" expressing frustration.

Meanwhile, as a large number of confirmed cases emerged from clubs in Itaewon-dong, the government immediately expressed regret.

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said at a COVID-19 emergency briefing on the 9th, "We have fought hard against COVID-19 and received praise for 'K-quarantine.' We were cautiously preparing for school reopening, but should all this be ruined because of the carelessness of just a few people?" he lamented.

He continued, "Citizens' disappointment and anger over the collapse of what was built because of a few people can only be great," and urged, "Please deeply consider once again that social distancing does not mean returning to pre-COVID-19 times."

Mayor Park emphasized, "Each citizen must take greater responsibility as the main agent of quarantine," and reiterated, "Please think deeply once again that social distancing does not mean going back to before COVID-19 and strive for thorough daily quarantine."

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to clubs and pubs in Itaewon, Seoul, has risen to at least 47.

According to data from health authorities and local governments, confirmed cases related to Itaewon clubs include 28 in Seoul, 11 in Gyeonggi, 5 in Incheon, 1 in Busan, 1 in Chungbuk, and 1 in Jeju, totaling 47.

Including Incheon patient number 101, who did not overlap with the movements of patient number 66 from Yongin, the so-called Itaewon-origin cases reach 48.