[On-site Video] "It's Very Inconvenient" Department Stores and Large Marts Complain on First Day of 'Quarantine Pass'

"Entry Takes Long... Is This Forcing Vaccination?"
First Day of Vaccine Pass at Department Stores and Large Marts... Citizens 'Inconvenienced'
Government: "To Avoid or Minimize Social Distancing as Much as Possible"

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, PD Yoon Jin-geun] "It's really inconvenient." , "Isn't this too much of a disadvantage?"

On the 10th, the first day the quarantine pass (vaccination certificate/negative test confirmation) was applied to department stores and large marts, citizens expressed their discomfort. There were complaints about the inconvenience caused by conflicts over vaccination status, and some even turned back on their own when trying to enter department stores.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), from this day forward, to enter department stores and large marts over 3,000㎡, one must submit a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a PCR negative confirmation issued within 48 hours.

Until the 16th, it will be operated as a guidance period, 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, 3 million KRW for subsequent violations, and may face separate administrative sanctions.

Citizens voiced their discomfort. Complaints ranged from 'bottleneck' delays during entry to criticisms that the system effectively forces vaccination and infringes on personal freedom by the state.

On the 10th, citizens were moving to shop at a large supermarket in Seoul, where large-scale stores such as shopping malls, marts, department stores, agricultural and marine products distribution centers, and bookstores with an area of 3,000㎡ or more were added to the mandatory application of the quarantine pass. The one-week guidance period will operate until the 16th, and from the 17th, individuals will be fined 100,000 KRW per violation. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

On that day, Choi (27, office worker, fully vaccinated) met in front of a department store in Jung-gu, Seoul, said, "It's really inconvenient as the quarantine pass is expanded to department stores," adding, "The lines to enter have become longer and I waited a long time because of the quarantine pass." He also said, "I oppose the quarantine pass."

Another citizen, Kim (31, office worker), canceled a visit to a department store due to the quarantine pass, pointing out, "From the perspective of those vaccinated against COVID-19, those unvaccinated inevitably appear unfavorable." He added, "So, I think unvaccinated people should accept some reasonable disadvantages, but this is somewhat excessive now," criticizing the measure.

He continued, "South Korea is a liberal democracy. It makes me wonder if this (vaccine mandate) is socialism or totalitarianism," appealing, "I hope the quarantine pass will be eased."

Meanwhile, the government reiterated that the quarantine pass is "an important quarantine measure that can control the spread of the virus instead of social distancing."

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Accident Response Headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated at a briefing that "If the quarantine pass expansion had not been implemented, the current social distancing measures would have prolonged and become more difficult."

Son explained, "Many people understand the quarantine pass expansion as a way to increase vaccination rates, but the vaccination rate has almost reached its limit," adding, "The purpose of the quarantine pass is not to raise vaccination rates, but to reduce the scale of the outbreak, secure medical system capacity, and avoid or delay and shorten social distancing as much as possible."