Residents Fearful of Neighborhood Park as Drinking Parties Erupt Every Night

No Masks and Drinking After 10 PM
Food Waste Odors Everywhere
Police Helpless Due to Lack of Punishment Standards

The area around the benches in the children's park at Majang National Sports Center in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, is filled with trash left by citizens overnight.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] "It turns into a lawless zone as soon as 10 p.m. hits. Only the residents suffer."

At around 11 p.m. on the 2nd, at the Majang National Sports Center Children's Park in Seongdong-gu, Seoul. Before COVID-19, this was a quiet park, but it has turned into a drinking party with loud voices in small groups. When revisited on the morning of the 4th, the park was a mess. Trash was scattered everywhere, not to mention spilled food here and there, emitting a foul odor. Resident Won Tae-in (38) said, "Every morning when I pass by here, it smells bad and looks unpleasant," adding, "Residents have taken turns reporting nighttime drinking, but it only quiets down briefly."

Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, is crowded with drinkers pouring out after the 10 p.m. business restriction. Trash discarded by citizens was scattered all over. The amount of trash collected from the park alone easily exceeds 1,500 liters daily. People were seen singing without masks, and groups exceeding four people were not uncommon. There were also hunting groups attempting spontaneous encounters between men and women. Although banners urging social distancing of over 2 meters were posted throughout the park, hardly anyone followed them.

The scenes around Sorae Port in Namdong-gu and Canal Walk in Cheongna, Seo-gu, Incheon, are similar. The lower area of Sorae Port in Nonhyeon-dong, Namdong-gu, has long been a drinking spot. Citizens who spread out mats and settled down were sitting closely together, talking without masks. Some were smoking cigarettes carelessly nearby.

Near the artificial waterway ‘Canal Way’ located in Seo-gu, Incheon, another round of ‘drinking and business’ started from 10 p.m. Although there is an apartment complex right next door and families taking walks, their loud noise continued past midnight.

Residents have filed complaints with the local district office and police, but to no avail. This is because there are no punishment standards beyond minor offenses such as drinking disturbances, public urination, and unauthorized entry. In Seoul, since the 15th of last month, a comprehensive summer measure has been implemented to discourage eating and drinking, but this only applies to Hangang Park and is not well enforced. However, starting from the 30th, according to the revised National Health Promotion Act, local governments can designate public places as no-alcohol zones and impose fines for violations.