[Report] "Bright Nights Even at 9 PM"... Angry Self-Employed Workers Counter 'Social Distancing Extension' with Light-On Protest

Self-Employed Protest Against Quarantine Guidelines with 'Lighting Demonstration'
Demanding Removal of Operating Hours and Expansion of Compensation Eligibility
"Quarantine Authorities Enforce One-Sided Sacrifices on Self-Employed"
Last Month, 'Lights-Out Demonstration' Also Opposed Quarantine Measures

Even after 9 p.m., the business closing time on the 6th, some stores in the Nonhyeon-dong food alley area of Gangnam-gu, Seoul, are brightly lit. Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] "It's really too hard." , "How are we supposed to live like this!"

On the night of the 6th, some stores nationwide remained brightly lit past the business restriction time of 9 p.m. This was a protest by self-employed business owners against the government's extension of social distancing measures, taking place from 9 p.m. to midnight from that day until the 14th.

On the 31st of last month, the government extended social distancing measures for two weeks until the 16th, limiting private gatherings to four people and restricting operating hours of restaurants and cafes to 9 p.m. to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Self-employed business owners immediately protested. The National Emergency Countermeasure Committee for the Self-Employed issued a statement on the 4th, saying, "We will unite with all groups suffering from the one-sided sacrifice demanded by quarantine policies and use all means to resist the quarantine authorities who have broken trust," announcing collective action. They also criticized the government's small business loss compensation, saying, "The advance payment of 5 million won for loss compensation is only a half-measure, reducing the target to 550,000 people."

Their claim is that with the strengthening of quarantine measures about a month after the start of the phased daily recovery (With Corona), self-employed business owners nationwide are facing a life-or-death crisis. They also held a large rally in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the 22nd of last month, demanding the withdrawal of the quarantine pass, suspension of business restrictions, and expansion of support funds for small business owners.

◆ Food alleys brightly lit even after 9 p.m.... Some plead, "We even pick up recyclables out of desperation"

That night, the food alley in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, was filled with office workers eating and drinking after work. After 9 p.m., when business hours are restricted, customers left the food alley like a receding tide, and inside the stores, staff were busy cleaning tables and sorting trash.

However, even after most stores had closed around 10 p.m., some remained brightly lit. Due to the bright lights, some intoxicated customers left empty-handed. A group of drunk office workers repeatedly asked a store employee, "The lights are on, but aren't you open? Isn't it until 10 p.m.?" before finally leaving.

A woman in her 40s, A, who sells fried foods nearby, said, "Even though it looks crowded, the number of customers has actually dropped by more than half compared to before COVID-19. We're just barely holding our ground," expressing sympathy with the lighting protest.

The Merchants' Association of Baekhak Market in Jung-gu, Seoul also participated in the lighting protest. The photo shows the area around Baekhak Market at around 11:30 PM on the 6th. Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@

That day, merchants at Baekhak Market in Jung-gu, Seoul, also participated in the lighting protest. Hwang Eun-jung, in her 40s, who runs a chicken feet restaurant with her mother at the market, said the COVID-19 quarantine measures have hit them hard. She explained, "Usually, bars start business around 6 p.m. But since operating hours are limited to 9 p.m., we only have 3 hours to operate, which is not nearly enough. Customers only have 3 hours, so they end with just one or two bottles. Less than half the tables in the store are filled."

Hwang continued, "Everyone around here is in the same situation. People who used to work near Baekhak Market now have nothing to do and are picking up recyclables. How desperate must they be? We've only avoided debt for two years, but we've spent all our money, and now it's over. Either extend the operating hours or implement other policies. If not, we will all die. Politicians get their salaries regularly, so why do they keep killing us? How are we supposed to live?" she pleaded.

B, in his 70s, who sells fruits and vegetables, also said, "We need a lot of people in the alleys for business to thrive, but there are no people because of COVID-19. I have nothing more to say."

A restaurant in Baekhak Market, Jung-gu, Seoul, which participated in the 'Lighting Protest,' kept the interior and signboard lights on around 11:30 PM on the 6th, after closing hours. Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@

◆ "Please listen to the voices on the ground"... Self-employed business owners also protested last month with a 'lights-out protest'

Meanwhile, this is not the first protest by self-employed business owners against government quarantine guidelines. According to the Emergency Committee, they delivered their demands to the government on the 22nd of last month, but the strengthened social distancing was extended for two weeks. Their main demands were △withdrawal of the quarantine pass △abolition of business restrictions △expansion of support funds for small business owners △expansion of the loss compensation law's coverage and more.

The committee stated, "Despite achieving an 80% vaccination rate through the efforts of the people, we condemn the incompetence of the quarantine authorities who cannot handle COVID-19 and the government that has regulated small business owners and the self-employed as if it were routine for the past two years," and emphasized, "They must listen to the voices on the ground."

Last month, they also took collective action with a 'lights-out protest.' The 'COVID-19 Victims Self-Employed General Union,' composed of seven self-employed groups including the Korea Foodservice Industry Association, held a nationwide 'lights-out protest' from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the 27th and 28th of last month in opposition to the government's quarantine guidelines. According to the group's estimate, about 200,000 businesses nationwide participated in the lights-out protest.