[Report] "Happy but Worried"… On the First Day of Social Distancing Lift, Visiting Jongno's 'Youth Street'

Full Lifting of Social Distancing on the 18th... Daily Life Restored After 757 Days
No Significant Difference in Crowds Compared to Weekends... Outdoor Food Stalls Also Crowded
Citizens "Definitely a Lively Atmosphere" "Good but Worried About Variant Virus"
Small Business Owners and Self-Employed "Actively Welcome Full Lifting of Distancing"

On the 18th, outdoor bars such as pojangmacha appeared bustling with customers, as if returning to the pre-COVID-19 days. Photo by Yoon Jin-geun PD

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Woo-seok] "All the reservations were fully booked," "It's good for hanging out, but there is concern about the spread of COVID-19."

On the evening of the 18th, when social distancing measures such as limits on private gatherings and business hours were fully lifted, the area near 'Jonggak Youth Street' in Jongno-gu, Seoul showed signs of liveliness, though not quite to the level before the COVID-19 outbreak.

The restriction on private gatherings, which had previously allowed up to 10 people, was lifted from 5 a.m. that day, and the business hour limits for multi-use facilities, which had been until midnight, were also removed. This marks the full lifting of social distancing measures about 757 days, or roughly 2 years and 1 month, after the first administrative order recommending a 15-day 'operation restriction' for religious facilities and some businesses on March 22, 2020.

The area around 'Youth Street' did not see a significant difference in crowds compared to the weekend just before the lifting of distancing measures. However, groups of customers, which were hard to find before, were noticeable in various shops and on the streets. Outdoor bars such as pojangmacha (street food stalls) were bustling with customers as if returning to the pre-COVID-19 days.

On the evening of the 18th, when social distancing measures such as limits on private gathering sizes and business hours were fully lifted, the area near 'Jonggak Youth Street' in Jongno-gu, Seoul, was lively. Photo by Kang Wooseok beedolll97@

Citizens met in Jongno's 'Food Alley' said that the full lifting of social distancing is becoming more tangible. Company employee A (31), who came out for a team dinner after a long time, said, "The crowd was gradually increasing even before the lifting, but today it seems especially larger," adding, "When I tried to make a reservation for the dinner, all the rooms were fully booked."

Office worker Kim (26) said, "There definitely seem to be more people than before. While I was eating at a restaurant, it felt like the number of people per table increased, so I can feel the lifting of social distancing," and added, "If additional measures like mask removal happen later, I think I will really feel the lifting of social distancing."

While happy about the lifting of distancing, some citizens expressed concern about the spread of COVID-19. Yu (24), who came out shopping, said, "There are definitely benefits to the lifting of social distancing. It's good for having fun and so on," but also expressed worry, "Although the spread has calmed down, it hasn't completely disappeared. I'm worried about what kind of new COVID-19 variant might emerge again."

Foreign national B (22), who arrived in Korea last February, said, "Honestly, since Korea still has quite a few confirmed cases, I am a bit cautious in terms of quarantine."

One citizen said that although worried about the spread of COVID-19, the lifting of distancing was an inevitable measure. Job seeker Shim (28) said, "Of course, the COVID-19 situation might worsen with the lifting of social distancing, but since it had to be done eventually, I don't think this measure is bad."

In February, a sashimi restaurant in Jonggak's Youth Street declared 24-hour operation in protest against the government's quarantine guidelines, including restrictions on business hours and loss compensation measures for annual sales under 1 billion won. Photo by Yoon Jin-geun PD

C (37), the owner of a sashimi restaurant in Jonggak Youth Street who declared 24-hour operation in February in protest against government quarantine guidelines such as business hour restrictions and loss compensation for businesses with annual sales under 1 billion won, said, "I am very happy about the lifting of social distancing," adding, "Even during the weekend just before the full lifting, there were many customers."

He continued about the time when he insisted on 24-hour operation, "I felt the most unfairness toward the government. Especially since our store was excluded from loss compensation, the unfairness was significant," but added, "Now time has passed and the situation has improved, so the unfair feelings have mostly disappeared."

Small business owners and self-employed people are also welcoming the full lifting of social distancing. The Korea Federation of COVID-19 Victim Businesses (Koja-chong) stated on the 15th in a statement welcoming the full lifting, "Member organizations affiliated with Koja-chong actively welcome the government's full lifting policy," and strongly demanded, "The next government should prepare loss compensation support measures focusing on businesses subject to gathering bans and restrictions such as entertainment, restaurants, and cafes that suffered huge losses. We urge 100% loss compensation and prompt execution." On the same day, the Small Business Association also emphasized in a statement, "Although somewhat late, we actively welcome the lifting of business restrictions, which was the greatest wish," and stressed, "Measures that drive small business owners and self-employed people into a corner should not exist in this land."

Meanwhile, the government urged individuals to continue practicing personal quarantine, stating that the lifting of distancing measures does not mean the end of COVID-19. Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said on the 18th, "Please remember that the lifting of social distancing does not mean the risk of COVID-19 spread has ended or that the pandemic is over," and requested, "Individual quarantine rules are important, and those aged 60 and over should be especially cautious."