Major Attractions Fully Booked for KTX Trains and Accommodations Ahead of Sunrise Viewing
Petition Posted Requesting to 'Stop Travelers'
Experts Warn "No Complacency... Avoid Crowded Attractions with High Human Contact"
Tourists watching the sunrise at Jeongdongjin, Gangneung. The photo was taken in January 2016 and is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] "What kind of sunrise trip is this in the current situation?", "Please do not go for everyone's safety."
As the third wave of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is spreading uncontrollably, some citizens are planning New Year's sunrise trips, raising concerns that the situation may worsen.
Local governments, known as sunrise spots, have completely canceled New Year's sunrise events, but reservations at hotels and other accommodations are mostly fully booked, raising concerns about gaps in quarantine measures due to the expected crowds. Experts urged people to avoid travel destinations where many gather and to safely welcome the New Year at home, given the severity of the COVID-19 spread.
Recently, numerous posts planning New Year's sunrise trips have been posted on various online communities and mom cafes. Despite the daily large-scale occurrence of confirmed cases, people seem unconcerned.
One member posted, "Since it's the year-end and New Year period, I am planning to go on a sunrise trip with my partner," adding, "I am planning to go to Gangwon-do, so if anyone knows of a pension, hotel, or resort with a good view of the sunrise, please let me know."
Besides this, posts related to sunrise such as 'List of sunset spots in OO area,' 'New Year's sunrise OO beach accommodation reservations,' 'Recommendations for domestic sunrise spots,' and 'Mountain camping sites with good sunrise views' have been posted.
As a result, a petition to ban visitors from sunrise viewing has appeared on the Blue House National Petition board. Recently, petitions titled 'Please ban access to beaches and coastal areas to prevent crowds at the sunrise,' 'Please suspend the KTX to Gangneung for sunrise viewing,' and 'Please block the East Coast sunrise' have been posted one after another.
On the 21st, a petition titled "Please prohibit access to beaches and coastal areas to prevent crowds from gathering for the sunrise" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. Photo by Blue House National Petition Website Capture
One petitioner expressed concern, saying, "Currently, all KTX trains from Seoul to Gangneung on January 1st are sold out, and places like Jeongdongjin and Pohang, famous sunrise spots on the East Coast, are expected to be crowded," adding, "I am not belittling Seoul residents, but compared to the metropolitan area, if one or two people get infected in the provinces, the transmission rate is higher because the towns are smaller."
He continued, "If the KTX cannot be stopped, then not only the third stage but also a complete lockdown should be implemented, and I think our economy will come to a complete stop," appealing, "Please prevent people from coming to see the sunrise on the East Coast. I lost my job due to COVID-19. I don't want to lose my livelihood as well."
Another issue is that the East Coast areas, including Donghae City and Gangneung City in Gangwon Province, which are representative sunrise viewing spots, have recently seen a continued spread of COVID-19.
Donghae City had maintained a single-digit cumulative number of confirmed cases with 7 last week, but after a chain infection starting at Jungang Elementary School and Donghae Hospital, more than 70 COVID-19 confirmed cases have occurred within five days since the 17th.
On the 2nd, citizens are waiting to get tested for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the screening clinic of Gangneung City Public Health Center in Gangwon Province. Photo by Yonhap News
The situation in Gangneung is also worsening. On the 20th alone, 11 people were infected, continuing the spread of COVID-19 in the Gangwon East Coast region. The cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Gangneung has reached 100. Accordingly, Gangneung City and Donghae City are conducting mass testing for all citizens by setting up drive-through and screening clinics.
Earlier, East Coast local governments had already canceled New Year's sunrise events entirely to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This is because the density of crowds increases due to travelers coming to watch the sunrise during various holidays such as Christmas and New Year's Day, increasing the risk of cluster infections.
However, despite these efforts, crowds are expected to gather at sunrise spots on the 31st. According to the Korail app on the 22nd, most of the 15 KTX trains from Seoul to Gangneung on New Year's Eve, the 31st, are sold out. In addition, year-end room reservations at large resorts and hotels on the East Coast are reported to be fully booked.
Some point out that it is difficult to monitor each sunrise tourist individually. Ultimately, each citizen and tourist must follow quarantine rules to prevent a large-scale infection outbreak. In this situation, hashtag campaigns opposing sunrise trips such as '#DontGoToSunrise', '#PleaseDontGoToSunrise', and '#DontGoToGangneung' are continuing on various SNS platforms like Instagram. They urge people to stay home for COVID-19 prevention and citizens' safety.
Experts pointed out that high-risk places where many gather should be avoided and vigilance should not be relaxed.
Professor Kim Wooju of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital said, "The spread is currently severe nationwide," adding, "This is a time to strengthen quarantine measures, and lowering vigilance is tantamount to spreading the infection." He continued, "Due to winter weather and fine dust, the transmissibility can only be higher. Avoiding contact between people is the best. As always, it is necessary to refrain from going out and to maintain cleanliness by washing hands, practicing cough etiquette, and managing the hygiene of the surrounding environment."
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