[Report] "Expected Year-End Boom"…Self-Employed Walking on Thin Ice Due to Omicron Variant

With 5,000 Confirmed Cases Each Day Including 'Omicron'
Self-Employed Say "We Thought Things Would Ease After With Corona, But We're Still Anxious"

On the morning of the 2nd, the streets of Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul are quiet. Photo by Heo Midam damdam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "It's really hard to do business. There have been more than a few times I wanted to close the store."

On the 2nd, Yoo (60), who runs a steamed chicken restaurant in Myeongdong Street, Jung-gu, Seoul, said, "Since With Corona, sales have improved a little, though not as much as before. But recently, with so many confirmed cases, I'm worried that social distancing might be reinstated." He sighed and added, "When social distancing was at level 4, there were hardly any people passing through Myeongdong. I thought we were finally catching a break, but now with the variant virus and all, it seems like social distancing will be enforced again."

He continued, "I'm hoping for a year-end boom, but I don't know if customers will come or not," adding, "The rent and labor costs aren't covered, so I wonder what the point is in keeping the store open."

As the daily number of new COVID-19 cases recently surpassed 5,000 and the Omicron variant has entered the country, the quarantine situation has worsened, increasing concerns among self-employed business owners. Those who had hoped for a sales recovery after the phased daily recovery (With Corona) and expected a year-end surge are now expressing anxiety again amid the severe quarantine crisis. The government is also reportedly preparing measures equivalent to social distancing level 4, deepening the sighs of self-employed business owners.

During a visit to the Myeongdong area that day, empty stores with "For Lease Inquiry" notices were seen everywhere. Even the places that were open were quiet due to a lack of customers. Especially, most of the first-floor stores, where rent is relatively expensive, had closed down. One three-story building was completely vacant with only a lease inquiry notice posted.

On the 2nd, a rental inquiry notice is posted at a store on Myeongdong Street, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Heo Midam damdam@

Choi (55), an employee at a galbijjim (braised short ribs) restaurant on Myeongdong Street, sighed while flipping through the reservation list. He said, "Myeongdong's main customers are foreigners, but due to COVID-19, foreign customers have almost disappeared. So even with With Corona, sales remain the same." He lamented, "The news says sales and reservations have increased after With Corona, but that's not the case here yet."

He added, "Even now, only 2 to 3 groups come in the evening. Our restaurant has been around for about 30 years, but this is the first time sales have been this poor. There are no reservations at all for December," and said, "Everyone is struggling, but we're barely holding on. Nearby stores have long since put up lease inquiry notices."

He also complained, "In the past, Myeongdong was so crowded that people would bump shoulders while walking. Not anymore. Compared to places like Ewha or Hongdae, Myeongdong seems to have taken a bigger hit in sales. Those places still seem to attract many young people, but here, since foreigners don't visit, sales don't increase."

Meanwhile, as the government is reportedly considering strengthening quarantine measures, the worries of self-employed business owners are deepening. A Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters official said that day, "We are reviewing all measures at the level of the previous social distancing level 4," adding, "Reducing the number of private gatherings will definitely be included, and restrictions on business hours and bans on gatherings are also being considered."

Previously, under the level 4 quarantine system, private gatherings were limited to 4 people, and only 2 people were allowed after 6 p.m. During the last two weeks of October, just before the daily recovery, gatherings of up to 8 people in the metropolitan area and up to 10 people in non-metropolitan areas were allowed if vaccinated individuals were included.

On the morning of the 2nd, the streets of Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul, appear quiet. Photo by Heo Midam damdam@

Given the situation, complaints from self-employed business owners continue on online communities. One netizen said, "I thought I could finally do some business after the restrictions were lifted, but confirmed cases hit the 5,000 range and now there are Omicron cases too," adding, "How much harder do we have to endure? It's really frustrating and exhausting."

Other netizens also criticized, saying, "I hired part-time workers because of With Corona, but what if social distancing is reinstated?", "I don't understand why only self-employed people have to sacrifice all the time. What crime did we commit?", and "Did they really not know that confirmed cases would increase after With Corona?"

Experts empathize with the difficulties faced by self-employed business owners but criticize the government's complacent attitude. Professor Lee Jaegab of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that day, "When phased daily recovery was implemented, there was talk about the increase in confirmed and severe cases, but a caveat was attached ? the emergency plan." He explained, "If an unmanageable number of critically ill patients occurs, we promised to pause to stabilize the epidemic situation and then proceed again. Because that promise was made, we agreed to and started daily recovery."

Professor Lee emphasized the difficulties of self-employed and small business owners, saying, "We certainly understand their pain," and stressed, "When we set up the emergency plan, we clearly stated that if the emergency plan is activated, packaged policy funds must be measured and, along with the emergency plan, support measures for small business owners, self-employed, and vulnerable groups must be implemented simultaneously."