"Will Keep Wearing Masks"... Most Wear Masks on First Day of School

On March 2, the first day of school, the area in front of Seokgwan Elementary School in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul was filled with students welcoming the new semester. The children asked each other which class they were in and hugged friends who ended up in the same class. Parents who came holding their children's hands to the school gate greeted each other while asking about recent news and sent their children off to school. Among those having conversations nearby, no one was seen taking off their masks. Only some students occasionally removed their masks when speaking, feeling uncomfortable. Kim (71), who volunteers for traffic control in front of the school, said, "I did not see a single student without a mask," adding, "Wearing masks has now become a habit, so it will be hard to take them off easily."

On the first day of school on the 2nd, students are going to school wearing masks in front of Seokgwan Elementary School in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

On this day, elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide held in-person entrance ceremonies for the first time in four years since March 2019. This was because the health authorities lifted the mask mandate indoors as well as outdoors starting January 30. Students and teachers can now wear masks voluntarily inside classrooms. The mandatory temperature checks and installation and operation of partitions in cafeterias have also been abolished.

Students welcomed the eased quarantine regulations. They could get closer to friends with whom they had felt a distance until now. Park Hanbyeol (15), a student at Seoul Girls' Commercial High School in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, said, "It was disappointing not being able to meet friends during online classes, but with the quarantine rules lifted, the burden is less," and added, "I came to school today with anticipation." Kang (9), who is now in the third grade of elementary school, said, "I like being able to see my friends' faces in the cafeteria now that the partitions are gone," adding, "It was hard to talk to friends over the partitions."

Entrance Celebration Banner at Cheongnyong Elementary School in Gwanak-gu, Seoul
Photo by Hwang Seoyul chestnut@

However, students still did not take off their masks. Most students attending the entrance ceremony at Seoul Girls' Commercial High School wore masks. Hwang Yunseo (15) said, "Because of concerns about infection, I will not take off my mask at the entrance ceremony," and added, "I think it is still right to be cautious." Choi (15) said, "I am excited to see the faces of friends and teachers, but it is also awkward," and added, "It takes quite a bit of courage to take off the mask from the very first meeting." Han Seunghee (36), a parent whose elementary school child is about to enter school, said, "Since COVID-19 is not completely over, I am worried," and added, "I have been practicing hand washing and sneezing etiquette with my child."

Experts interpreted that although the health authorities lifted the mask mandate, citizens are still concerned about COVID-19 infection. On the 1st, the number of COVID-19 cases was 7,561, making it premature to consider the pandemic over. As of the same day, the additional winter vaccination rate against COVID-19 among the total population was 13.7%, indicating that people are not sufficiently vaccinated, which is also a concerning factor.

Professor Eom Jung-sik of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Gachon Gil Medical Center said, "Seeing people wearing masks not only in schools but also on the streets shows that the public still perceives a high risk of infection," and diagnosed, "Even if the government tells people to take off masks, it will take a long time before masks are completely discarded."