Social Distancing Level 1 Eased on the 'First Day'... Vibrancy Across Gwangju

Increasing Number of Visitors at Restaurants, Department Stores, Terminals, and Cafes

Even When Intoxicated in Entertainment Districts, Individuals Maintain 2m Distancing and Follow Personal Hygiene Measures

On the afternoon of the 3rd, around 3 p.m., the first day of the transition to social distancing level 1, citizens waiting for buses at Gwangju Intercity Bus Terminal sat spaced one seat apart while wearing masks.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Seong Seul-gi] As Gwangju Metropolitan City eased social distancing to Level 1 starting from the 3rd, the streets were filled with smiles for the first time in a while.

The intense Level 2 social distancing that had continued for over a month ended, and although local COVID-19 infections had somewhat eased, which might have led to lax personal quarantine rules, the mature civic consciousness shone brightly.

Around noon that day at a restaurant in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu.

This place, which had been quiet due to the COVID-19 situation, was bustling as if traveling back in time to before the outbreak, with people even taking waiting tickets. However, the difference was that everyone was wearing masks.

Citizens waited for their turn with bright expressions, looking at their phones or chatting with their companions as if it was the norm.

Even though it was just a day apart, it looked like the economy, which had been stagnant, was beginning to stretch and recover.

Around 2 p.m. at Shinsegae Department Store in Gwangcheon-dong, Seo-gu. Personal quarantine guidelines were well observed here as well.

The staff managing the thermal scanners installed at every entrance kept their eyes fixed on the monitors, as if to say it was too early to be careless, and most visitors wore masks, strictly adhering to personal quarantine rules.

Had it become routine? At the event hall on the first floor of the department store, hosting the ‘Love Bazaar’ together with Jeonnam Love Fruit of Charity, citizens choosing items naturally kept their distance from others.

Around the same time at Gwangju Intercity Bus Terminal. It was crowded with citizens carrying travel bags for the vacation season, but most did not forget to wear masks.

One citizen, seemingly uncomfortable breathing, glanced around and briefly pulled down the mask to take a deep breath, then gently pressed it back over the nose.

Customer Shin (45) said, “Because of COVID-19, I was anxious about coming to the crowded terminal and couldn’t see my son in Daejeon, so I came out to meet him. Still, I always wear a mask just in case.”

Around 8:30 PM on the 3rd, all citizens who came out to the entertainment district in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, were seen diligently following personal quarantine guidelines.

One of the places where COVID-19 infection was considered serious, the entertainment district, felt as if Level 2 social distancing was still in effect, with personal quarantine rules being even more strictly followed despite the easing.

At around 8:30 p.m., when darkness deepened and young people began to come out, the Sangmu district, Gwangju’s representative entertainment area.

Was it a rare date? Despite the humid and hot weather, one couple held hands tightly and walked for a long time.

Perhaps fearful of COVID-19 infection, even those already quite drunk seemed to treat their masks as part of themselves, despite the discomfort or forgetfulness that might come with wearing them.

Only a handful of citizens took off their masks to fan themselves with their hands.

Choi (25), who came out to drink with a friend, said, “Last month, COVID-19 cases kept increasing daily, so I was worried. Now that it has eased, I made up my mind and came out to meet a close friend after a long time. But I think we need to be more careful at times like this, so I always make sure to bring my mask when I go out,” and hurried on.

Around 9:30 p.m. at a food alley in Dongcheon-dong, Seo-gu, citizens’ compliance with personal quarantine rules had become routine.

Citizens standing on the street chatting wore masks, making their voices hard to hear, but they maintained some distance despite the inconvenience.

Restaurant staff, despite the hot weather and the crowd of customers, wore masks while serving, sweating so much that it was hard to distinguish from water. They were also frequently washing their hands during work.

Jung (34), a restaurant owner, said, “Sales have dropped by more than half, but I hope more customers come with the easing of social distancing. Even if COVID-19 calms down, we in the service industry will strictly follow quarantine rules to provide safe and delicious food to customers.”

Meanwhile, with Gwangju City transitioning social distancing to Level 1, administrative measures banning gatherings, meetings, and events of 50 or more people indoors and 100 or more outdoors have been lifted, and multi-use facilities operated by public institutions, indoor sports facilities, and local daycare centers are operating normally. Senior centers and heat shelters have also reopened. Spectators are allowed in professional baseball and soccer stadiums, and religious facilities have been reclassified as medium-risk facilities with eased standards.

However, these regulations require compliance with quarantine rules and limits on the number of users, and the mandatory wearing of masks on public transportation and in multi-use facilities remains in effect.