Online Cafe Companion Recruitment Posts
Visiting Tourist Spots like Jeju and Busan
1 Night 2 Days with Strangers
Few Cafes Close Their Boards
Only Concerns About Hidden COVID-19 Infections
Foreigners and citizens are escaping the heat at Haeundae Beach in Busan. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] "Looking for travel companions to spend summer vacation together in Gangneung and Sokcho, Gangwon-do. Planning a food tour and water activities."
On the 4th, posts related to 'travel companions' recruiting strangers for trips can be easily found in online cafes themed around travel. There were no restrictions on joining as long as the schedule and location matched. Some posts suggested traveling together for about a week, starting with a 1-night, 2-day trip. Most locations were places where tourists flock to enjoy water activities to escape the heat, such as Jeju, Gangneung, and Busan. One poster wrote, "There is accommodation available for free in Sokcho," and encouraged many to apply, saying, "If you want to join for water activities, snorkeling, and sea fishing experiences, please sign up."
Despite the spread of COVID-19, posts related to travel companions continue to be posted. When travelers feel bored or need someone to start a trip with, they post recruitment messages. Most aim to rent a car and head to secluded places or visit lesser-known attractions to avoid COVID-19 infection. As the summer vacation season approaches, those hoping to find travel companions have become bolder. Posts suggesting visits to crowded beaches, valleys, or famous tourist spots have caught attention. Only a few cafes have temporarily closed their boards to prevent travel companion gatherings, stating, "Many people express concerns about maintaining travel companion recruitment rooms as the COVID-19 situation worsens. Therefore, the board is temporarily closed."
Even without COVID-19 symptoms, traveling with unspecified many increases concerns about asymptomatic and undetected infections. There have been cases of people testing positive for COVID-19 after returning from vacation spots. Recently, double-digit confirmed cases continue to appear in Jeju and Gangwon-do. As the spread of COVID-19 continues, the government is urging people to refrain from traveling this summer. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum appealed yesterday, "For this vacation, I sincerely ask you to spend it as 'resting time' rather than 'time spent together,'" and urged, "Please refrain from traveling as much as possible during the remaining vacation period."
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