Daejeon Mayor: "Firm Commitment to Mask Voluntariness Starting January 1"

Daejeon Mayor: "Take off [masks] when entering restaurants and put them on when leaving... It doesn't make sense"
"Decision made considering overall situation... Must fully switch to autonomous quarantine system"

Following the announcement of the lifting of the indoor mask mandate in Daejeon City, discussions on lifting the mask mandate are expected to proceed at the central government level as well. On the afternoon of the 4th, a citizen is seen walking without a mask at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Lee Jang-woo, Mayor of Daejeon Metropolitan City, stated that it is appropriate to fully transition to a voluntary quarantine system for mask-wearing. Daejeon City plans to allow citizens to decide whether to wear masks voluntarily starting January 1 next year.

On the 5th, Mayor Lee appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and pointed out, "Right now, when entering restaurants or cafes, people take off their masks while eating or talking but put them back on when leaving. Isn't that inconsistent?" He criticized the current indoor mask-wearing as merely a formality.

Mayor Lee said, "Mask-wearing is causing significant problems in child development, and most OECD countries do not require masks," adding, "Considering these circumstances comprehensively, I judged that it is right to fully transition to a voluntary quarantine system so that the public can decide on mask-wearing themselves."

When asked whether the lifting of the indoor mask mandate can be pursued independently by local governments, Mayor Lee responded, "Legally, I believe it can be done independently," and added, "Close consultation with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) at the national level is also necessary."

He further stated, "If the government does not take a position by around December 15, I have sent an opinion that at least Daejeon City will take measures to allow citizens to decide on mask-wearing voluntarily in the coming year."

Regarding criticisms that lifting the indoor mask mandate is premature amid the winter resurgence of COVID-19, Mayor Lee said, "We are discussing maintaining the mask-wearing mandate in high-risk places such as hospitals, clinics, infection-vulnerable facilities, and nursing homes," and added, "We will focus on managing high-risk groups aged 60 and over and continue to strengthen preventive measures such as additional vaccinations during the winter."

Mayor Lee stated, "Currently, we have a firm intention to make indoor mask-wearing voluntary starting around January 1."