Ban on Gatherings of 5 or More Immediate Family Members During Lunar New Year Holiday
Mom Cafes Complain "No Word from In-Laws," "Will Probably Visit Relatives After All"
Mother-in-Law Conflicts Due to COVID-19 Also Reported
A large banner promoting social distancing during the Lunar New Year holiday to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is installed on the exterior wall of Seoul Library. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] # Lee Mo (35, female), an office worker living in Mapo-gu, Seoul, is worried about visiting her in-laws during the Lunar New Year holiday. Lee said, "My in-laws haven't said anything, so I'm just watching the situation for now," adding, "I'm worried whether I should prepare food as usual. When relatives gather during the holiday, they will likely eat together and not wear masks, so I'm concerned about exposure to COVID-19." She continued, "Although the government has banned gatherings of five or more people, as a daughter-in-law, it's not easy to say I can't go first unless the in-laws explicitly tell me not to come."
Recently, posts expressing concerns about visiting in-laws or relatives during the Lunar New Year holiday have been appearing mainly on online communities such as mom cafes. Initially, the government decided to extend the ban on private gatherings of five or more people until the 14th of next month, when the Lunar New Year holiday ends. As a result, visiting hometowns or relatives and family gatherings during the holiday are expected to be practically difficult.
However, some voices complain that despite the government's quarantine rules, they feel pressured to visit their in-laws due to the expectations of elders.
The government has decided to extend the current social distancing measures (Level 2.5 in the metropolitan area, Level 2 in non-metropolitan areas) and the ban on private gatherings of five or more people for two weeks until the 14th, when the Lunar New Year holiday ends, to prevent COVID-19 spread.
Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said at a regular briefing on the 31st of last month, "Only families living together are exempted, and gatherings of family members living separately are interpreted as violating the ban on private gatherings of five or more people," adding, "We ask that during this Lunar New Year holiday, people refrain as much as possible from gathering in one place to share affection and instead send greetings non-face-to-face."
Accordingly, it is prohibited for five or more people to gather at the same time and place for private purposes. This applies without exception during the Lunar New Year holiday. Even immediate family members can only gather up to four people if they live separately. Violators will be fined up to 100,000 KRW per person. For example, if parents take their grandchildren to their hometown or if several relatives gather in one house, it will be considered a gathering of five or more people and subject to enforcement. Ultimately, due to these government measures, most families are facing difficulties in returning home for the holidays.
Meanwhile, complaints from daughters-in-law preparing to return home are continuously appearing mainly on online communities such as mom cafes. They express that despite the government's measures, they have no choice but to go because they fear being disliked by relatives regardless of their own will.
Recently, a post titled "How do you handle visiting your in-laws and parents during the Lunar New Year?" was posted on a mom cafe in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The author wrote, "I read an article saying that even immediate family members cannot gather in groups of five or more during the Lunar New Year holiday. Despite this situation, my family is gathering," adding, "The in-laws consider it acceptable for family members to gather. I understand the mindset of 'It's okay because we're family,' but the daughter-in-law's position is different. The mother is responsible for worrying about the children."
She continued, "It seems like relatives will gather because it's a holiday. Everyone around me says they are going to their in-laws and parents," and lamented, "In the situation where COVID-19 is spreading, the reality is that I have to go without saying anything and while watching my in-laws' reactions."
On a mom cafe in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, a user said, "If the in-laws ask me to come, I have to go, but what's the point of social distancing?" She added, "Last week was my father-in-law's birthday, and I went because they asked me to. Even though my mother-in-law says 'No gatherings of five or more due to social distancing,' she says 'We're okay.' It's really sad that I have to go again during the Lunar New Year."
As a result, some are experiencing mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflicts over whether to return home. One netizen wrote on an online community, "My in-laws called saying they want to see the children and asked me to come down this Lunar New Year. I replied 'I won't go.' Who knows what might happen to each other anytime, anywhere?" She added, "I ended up fighting with my in-laws. I'm very stressed because they force me to perform ancestral rites during the holidays. Given the current situation, can't we spend the holiday non-face-to-face this time? I don't understand why I'm treated as a selfish person."
Experts have expressed critical opinions about maintaining the ban on private gatherings of five or more people until the Lunar New Year holiday. Professor Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital, said, "I think it's an excessive measure. Some people will not gather during the holidays due to the fines, but those who are not sensitive to the government's measures will still gather. It's a difficult situation."
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