"Happy New Year" New Year's Party During COVID Era Also Held Online

Difficulty in Year-End and New Year Gatherings Due to Quarantine Measures Like 'Ban on Gatherings of 5 or More'
Popularity of 'Online New Year's Parties' Using Video Conferencing Platforms

Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, non-face-to-face online meetings are continuing. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] As nationwide measures such as the 'ban on gatherings of five or more people' are implemented to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), more citizens are planning New Year's gatherings online in a non-face-to-face manner during the year-end and New Year holidays.

Additionally, with the strengthening of social distancing, restaurants and bars are no longer allowed to operate after 9 p.m., and popular year-end and New Year gathering venues such as 'party rooms' have been completely shut down.

As offline gatherings to wrap up the year, such as year-end parties, closing ceremonies, and New Year's meetings, have become impossible, companies and organizations are increasingly holding so-called 'online New Year's parties' using online platforms like Zoom and Google Meet.

A survey conducted by the employment portal Incruit targeting 663 corporate members on '2020 year-end in-house event plans' revealed that only 9.0% of participating companies planned year-end events such as year-end parties and closing ceremonies. This figure is about one-seventh of last year's same period (66.2%).

On the 26th of last month, Indent Corporation, which operates the AI video review service 'VReview,' held a non-face-to-face year-end party called 'Indenter's Night.' The party was a virtual event with all employees participating, conducted via the video conferencing program Zoom, and was planned to follow the actual offline year-end party schedule, including an opening ceremony, employee participation events, awards ceremony, and closing remarks.

Lotte Home Shopping announced on the 31st that it would hold a non-face-to-face year-end party via YouTube to encourage employees and strengthen unity in a work environment minimizing face-to-face contact due to COVID-19.

Also, the online class platform 'Class101' announced plans for an online year-end party including online awards to recognize members active in various fields. In addition, companies such as Vendis, which operates the corporate mobile meal ticket service 'Sikgwon Daejang,' supported 'online gathering expenses' with Baedal Minjok coupons, among other non-face-to-face year-end events held by various companies.

College student A held a virtual year-end party with acquaintances on the 26th. Photo by Reader Provided

Not only in companies but also recently on online communities and social networking services (SNS), posts about holding 'online year-end parties' non-face-to-face, mainly among people in their 20s and 30s, have been continuously appearing.

Moreover, on platforms like YouTube, content such as 'home party food recipes,' 'recommended games for online year-end parties,' and 'online party vlogs' are being uploaded one after another, and more people are planning non-face-to-face gatherings for the upcoming 2021 New Year celebrations.

A university student A, who held an 'online year-end party' with high school friends on the 26th, said, "We dressed up nicely and each prepared food, and saw friends' faces on Zoom after a long time."

He added, "Watching YouTube, there were many games and various content for people like us holding online year-end parties, so I referred to many of them. Although it was a video call, it was enjoyable as if we actually met, and the conversation lasted for over three hours, so I could feel the year-end atmosphere even in my room."

Also, A said, "It would be nice to meet in person right away, but given the situation, it was very frustrating. Seeing my friends even through the laptop screen made me feel somewhat healed," and added, "I hope next time we can definitely see each other's faces in person."