Small business owners deeply worried about the spread of COVID-19. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Seoyoung] People who cannot rest even during the Seollal holiday have voiced their respective difficulties.
As the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases continues to hit record highs daily, anxiety is growing at quarantine sites. Especially with the Seollal holiday officially beginning, various sites such as public health centers are preparing measures like readjusting duty schedules to deploy more personnel during the holiday.
On the 28th, a temporary screening clinic is operating at the Yongin Rest Area (Incheon direction) in Cheoin-gu, Yongin City. [Photo by Yonhap News]
In particular, as the COVID-19 situation prolongs and the number of public officials taking leave increases, the manpower shortage at quarantine sites during the Seollal holiday is expected to worsen. In fact, since last year, there has been a significant increase in public officials taking leave due to shortages of health workers and excessive workloads. Public officials working on-site have also expressed concerns about the intensity of their work while lamenting that they cannot rest comfortably during the Seollal holiday.
An entrance of a restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul, displays a notice related to the quarantine pass (vaccine certificate and negative test confirmation system). Photo by Yonhap News
Those unable to rest during the Seollal holiday due to COVID-19 are not limited to these individuals. Recently, self-employed business owners, whose sales have drastically decreased due to the business restriction measures after 9 p.m. applied to restaurants and cafes, have also given up their holidays to continue operating. According to a survey conducted this month by 'Alba Heaven,' a job portal specializing in part-time jobs, targeting 129 self-employed members, 77.5% (100 members) plan to operate their stores during the Seollal holiday, and among them, 47% (47 members) intend to operate for all five days.
On the other hand, some self-employed business owners, although willing to continue operating during the holiday, decided to close due to concerns about running at a loss. Since the ban on private gatherings of six or more people and the 9 p.m. business restriction measures remain in effect during the Seollal holiday, it is difficult to expect the holiday sales boom seen before the COVID-19 situation.
Additionally, as considerations such as surcharges on delivery service fees increase during the holiday, the hardships of self-employed business owners are expected to continue throughout the holiday. In online communities where self-employed business owners gather, complaints such as "Sales are so low that I have to work even during the holiday" and "I'm afraid the 'best restaurant ranking' on delivery apps will drop, so I keep my store open during the holiday" have been voiced.
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