[Report] "This Is Really Too Much" Department Store and Large Mart 'Quarantine Pass' Mandate First Day... 'Confusion'

Mandatory Quarantine Pass for Large Stores Over 3,000㎡ Starting Today (10th)
Middle-aged and Elderly Unfamiliar with Smartphones Complain "Quarantine Pass Is Inconvenient for Grocery Shopping"
Younger Generation Says "Quarantine Pass Allows Safe Use of Facilities"
Government Emphasizes "Quarantine Pass Expansion Shows Decline in COVID-19 Spread"

On the 10th, the entrance of a large supermarket located in the metropolitan area was crowded with citizens trying to verify their quarantine passes. Photo by Seulgi Yoon seul97@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] "The government is determined to let the common people starve to death," "Now we're used to the 'vaccine pass'."

Starting today (the 10th), to visit large stores such as department stores and large marts with an area of 3,000㎡ or more, it is mandatory to submit a 'vaccine pass' (proof of vaccination or negative test) or a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) negative certificate issued within 48 hours.

As the spread of COVID-19 intensified, the government designated multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes as vaccine pass applicable facilities on the 6th of last month, and then expanded it to large stores. While most young people responded that they have become accustomed to the 'vaccine pass' being applied to essential facilities, the elderly who have difficulty using smartphones complained of inconvenience.

Seo Hyo-sik (68), a '2G' cellphone user in front of a department store located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, expressed his frustration. He was refused entry to the department store because he could not authenticate the QR code using his 2G phone and did not have a vaccination certificate.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), from today, to enter department stores and large marts of 3,000㎡ or more, one must submit a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a PCR negative certificate issued within 48 hours. To minimize confusion, a guidance period will be in place until the 16th, and from the 17th, individuals will be fined 100,000 KRW per violation. Facility operators will be fined 1.5 million KRW for the first violation and 3 million KRW for subsequent violations, and separate administrative actions may be taken.

On the 10th, a citizen who was unable to enter the department store due to using a 2G phone expressed dissatisfaction with the expanded implementation of the quarantine pass. Photo by Seulgi Yoon seul97@asiae.co.kr

Mr. Seo, who identified himself as a delivery worker for goods at the department store, said, "I couldn't scan the QR code because I have a 2G phone. I have to deliver goods, but this is a big problem," and raised his voice, saying, "Why does the department store require a vaccine pass? It seems the government wants to starve the common people. How am I supposed to make a living like this?" He continued to express his discomfort, saying, "I have to survive first, so I plan to go to the community service center to get a vaccine pass."

The situation at the entrance of another department store in Yeongdeungpo-gu was similar. At each entrance of the department store, from one to as many as five or six employees were guiding customers on QR code authentication. While young people familiar with smartphones skillfully displayed their QR code screens before entering the department store, middle-aged and elderly people struggled for several minutes at the entrance holding their phones because their vaccination status was not updated or they were not proficient in using smartphones.

On the 10th, citizens lined up at the entrance of a department store in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, to verify QR codes. Photo by Seulgi Yoon seul97@asiae.co.kr

A man in his 70s, Mr. A, who entered with the help of a department store employee, said, "I have been fully vaccinated, but it did not show that I was a fully vaccinated person," and added, "I barely got in with the employee's help." Another department store user, Mr. Kim (71), also complained that it was difficult to verify his vaccination status with a QR code. Mr. Kim explained, "Even at restaurants, they ask for a vaccine pass, so I needed a QR code. My hands are slow because of age, and the QR code screen turns off after a few seconds, so it was very inconvenient. In the end, I went to the community center and had a vaccination completion sticker attached to the back of my resident ID card."

The entrance of a large mart located in the metropolitan area, where many middle-aged users visited, was even more crowded with people and carts tangled together.

Employees at the large mart were individually guiding customers unfamiliar with smartphone use on QR code authentication, but congestion occurred at the entrance due to the influx of customers. Mr. B, a citizen in his 50s, said, "I came to shop, and I was surprised to see so many people at the entrance," adding, "Everyone seems to have difficulty with the vaccine pass because they are not good at using their phones."

On the 10th, a notice about the implementation of the quarantine pass was posted at a large mart located in the metropolitan area.
Photo by Yoon Seulgi seul97@asiae.co.kr

On the other hand, among young people, there were opinions that the application of the 'vaccine pass' is the best measure the government can take for the recovery of daily life amid the current COVID-19 pandemic. Kim Seo-young (19), who used the movie theater inside the department store, said, "I was originally afraid of needles, so I hesitated to get vaccinated, but after vaccination, I feel safe using facilities with the vaccine pass," and added, "Since I have a smartphone, it's easy to verify vaccination, and I don't find it particularly inconvenient." A delivery worker in his 20s who stopped by to pick up delivery food at a restaurant inside the department store also said, "I have completed vaccination, and since I just have to show the screen, my work hasn't become more difficult."

Meanwhile, the government explained that the expanded application of the vaccine pass is affecting the recent decline in COVID-19 cases. Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Accident Response Headquarters, said at a briefing today (the 10th), "We believe that the vaccine pass expansion policy is the reason for curbing the spread and turning it into a decline," and added, "This reduction is accelerating. The faster decline is believed to be the combined effect of the vaccine pass expansion and social distancing."