[On-site Video] "Many Customers," "Worried About COVID Spread" On the First Day of Social Distancing Lift, Visiting Jongno 'Meokja Alley'

[Asia Economy PD Yoon Jin-geun, Reporter Kang Woo-seok] “We are happy that social distancing has been lifted. Reservations have also increased.”, “I am a bit worried about what kind of variant might appear again.”

On the evening of the 18th, the first day after the social distancing measures were lifted, citizens expressed their expectations for a return to normal life while also showing concerns about the spread of COVID-19.

From this day, the limit on private gatherings, which was previously restricted to 10 people, was lifted, and large-scale company dinners or meetings with more than 10 people were allowed. In addition, the operating hours of some multi-use facilities, which had been restricted until midnight, were also lifted.

On the first day after the social distancing measures were lifted, around 8 p.m. on the 18th, citizens were passing near the dining alley in Jongno-gu. Photo by Yoon Jin-geun PD

On the first day of the lifting of social distancing, the area around Jongno’s food alley in Seoul did not show a significant difference in crowd size compared to before the lifting. There were various groups of customers such as couples, coworkers, and friends, but it was not crowded. However, some pubs like pojangmacha (street food stalls) showed scenes similar to those before COVID-19.

From the 18th, the restriction limiting private gatherings to a maximum of 10 people was lifted, and large-scale dinners with 10 or more people at workplaces or meetings were also permitted. Citizens gathered in the Jongno food alley on the 18th. Photo by Yoon Jin-geun PD

Citizens who came to Jongno for company dinners or meetings with friends said that the streets seemed more crowded due to the lifting of social distancing. Office worker A (31) said, “With the end of social distancing, we were able to have a team dinner for the first time in a while,” adding, “The crowd had been gradually increasing even before the lifting, but today it seems especially crowded.” He continued, “When I tried to make a reservation for the dinner this time, all the rooms were fully booked.”

On the evening of the 18th, when social distancing measures were lifted, citizens are drinking at a pojangmacha located in the food alley of Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Jin-geun PD

Another office worker, Kim Jin-seok (26), said, “There are definitely more people than before,” and added, “I can feel the lifting of social distancing because every restaurant table seems to have more people dining.”

One citizen said that although there are concerns about the spread of infectious diseases, the lifting of social distancing was an appropriate choice. Shim (28) said, “Of course, (lifting social distancing) will make infection control worse,” but added, “We have to lift social distancing at some point... so I don’t think lifting it now is a bad timing.” However, regarding the street atmosphere, he said, “There doesn’t seem to be much difference from usual. It seems like the crowd was about this size even before.”

There were also citizens worried about the spread of infectious diseases due to the lifting of social distancing. Yoo Ah-ron (24) said, “The number of people on the streets has increased and the psychological burden seems to have decreased,” but added, “Although the COVID-19 spread has subsided, I am still worried. There are good points to lifting social distancing, but I worry about what kind of variant might appear.”

Last December, the owner of a raw fish restaurant in Jongno-gu, who defied government guidelines and operated 24 hours, expressed relief at the lifting of social distancing measures and said that the number of customers visiting the store has increased. The photo shows the exterior of the restaurant. Photo by Yoon Jin-geun PD

The owner of a sashimi restaurant in Jongno-gu, who had defied government guidelines and operated 24 hours last December, expressed joy at the lifting of social distancing and said that the number of customers visiting the store has increased.

Restaurant owner B (37) said, “I am happy that social distancing has been lifted,” and added, “There are more customers.” When asked if he had any message for the government, he said, “We were excluded from the compensation for losses for self-employed people, so we operated after midnight forcibly,” and added, “At that time, we felt unfair toward the government, but now that feeling has mostly disappeared.”

Meanwhile, the government urged people to pay attention to personal quarantine measures as the epidemic is still ongoing despite the lifting of social distancing. Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said on the 18th, “From today, restrictions on business hours, private gatherings, and large-scale events will be lifted,” but emphasized, “Please remember that the lifting of social distancing does not mean that the risk of COVID-19 spread has ended or that the epidemic is over.”