Travel-related online cafes see active posts recruiting travel companions
Rising concerns over COVID-19 infection when traveling with strangers
"May become a transmitter in the local community after travel"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] "Looking for travel companions for a 2-night, 3-day trip to Jeju."
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people visiting popular travel destinations is increasing as the year-end and New Year holidays approach. Amid this, there is a growing number of people posting recruitment messages to form travel groups with strangers, raising concerns that this could create gaps in quarantine measures.
On December 5th, posts recruiting travel companions could be easily found on Naver cafes and other travel information-sharing platforms. The authors expressed their hope to travel with 1 to 5 people and asked interested parties to send private messages individually. The travel periods were usually from 1 night and 2 days up to 5 nights and 6 days, and anyone could participate.
The authors posted these recruitment messages because they planned solo trips but felt bored and wanted travel companions. Most travel destinations were popular tourist spots such as Jeju, Gangneung, and Sokcho, and posts appeared roughly every 10 minutes on popular travel-related cafes. One author recruiting travel companions said, "I came to Jeju alone, but it’s more boring than I expected," and added, "I rented a car, so I’m looking for someone to travel with."
Experts emphasize that such travel behavior increases the risk of COVID-19 infection, especially when social distancing measures have been heightened to prevent contact with others. Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Respiratory Medicine Department at Ewha Mokdong Hospital explained, "Traveling for an extended period in close contact with people who are not family members and completely unknown is very dangerous," and added, "Research shows that the risk of COVID-19 infection is 3 to 4 times higher when riding in a vehicle."
She continued, "Even if masks are worn, there is a high chance they will be removed during conversations or meals, so this type of travel should be absolutely avoided," and added, "If someone gets infected during a group trip and returns to their residence, they could become a source of community transmission."
There are also concerns that Jeju, a popular destination for group travel, is being exposed to COVID-19 risks. On December 2nd, nine people who participated in a 3-night, 4-day COVID escape outing event in Jeju were infected. After traveling, they underwent COVID-19 tests in Seoul and other areas and were confirmed positive.
Meanwhile, as COVID-19 spreads within Jeju, the Jeju provincial government announced on December 2nd that from midnight on December 4th, the entire region will raise its "Jeju-style social distancing" to level 1.5. Accordingly, gatherings or events of more than 100 people organized by private groups are completely banned, and public gatherings are only allowed if indoor attendance is fewer than 50 people and outdoor attendance fewer than 100, strengthening social distancing measures.
Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong emphasized at a press conference, "If you have even slight suspicious symptoms, please postpone your visit to Jeju, and if you must visit, be sure to wear a mask during your stay and immediately visit a medical institution if symptoms appear." He added, "There have been cases of people who visited Jeju under the pretext of a COVID escape outing and were later confirmed positive," and stressed, "Jeju is neither a place to escape from COVID-19 nor a refuge from it."
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