Coronavirus scare forces millennials to relive Sewol nightmare
Coronavirus fears are gripping the country, including students. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Cho Hae-min
We millennials are scared, not so much of the rising number of casualties from the coronavirus epidemic, but about the sense of helplessness ― not being able to do anything except wear a mask or wash our hands more often.
What we are going through is deja vu of six years ago, on April 16, 2014, when the Sewol ferry sank and students of my age on board died. I remember having heaved a sigh of relief when I heard initial reports that all were rescued. A few hours later, my heart sank on news that they went down with the ship.
It later proved they waited for help, as instructed through the public address system. I can never forget it.
Now the death toll is rising from the coronavirus outbreak amid the government's measures that have proved insufficient at each inflection point. The epidemic is striking fear into our collective heart.
When I take the subway, my habit is to look around for anybody not wearing a mask who is coughing. I get angry but I am sympathetic at the same time, knowing wearing masks is not pleasant. I wonder how long this will go on.
Students around my age are edgy.
Many students are scared of the virus and say it is affecting their studies. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
One of my friends, who is preparing for the certified labor attorney test, says she can't concentrate on preparing as she is bothered by the rising number of confirmed cases and deaths.
“The institution that I attend is crowded with more than 300 students,” she said. “I don't know whether there are infected patients nearby and the institution is more of a fear rather than the place where I can diligently prepare for the future.”
Another student, 24, who attends Sungkyunkwan University, said that using outside restrooms is a huge fear as there are many articles saying the virus can linger for a long time in a toilet.
“I'm so fearful of using the same toilet as a person who is infected,” the student said. “There's no possible way for me to know whether an infected person used the toilet prior. If I get infected, it could surely infect all of my family members.”
Many students are staying at home for more than two weeks to avoid the virus.
Fake news on SNS exacerbates the fear among students.
A video of an alleged coronavirus patient in trouble went viral but it proved to be a fake. On the flip side, sometimes it is through social media that news of a new case is known faster than through traditional media.
The coronavirus outbreak has caused problems for some students, like a Hanyang University graduate who has seen a certification course for becoming an elementary school teacher put on hold. That means she has to wait longer to become a teacher and get paid.
She is now as good as jobless. Her course could start when the new semester for her prospective pupils begins but it has been delayed. Few know for sure when it will begin. In the meantime, she needs to make a living and pay her rent.
For the younger generation, the worst part is that we are now reliving the sense of helplessness that emerged during the Sewol disaster six years ago.
Cho Hae-min is a Korea Times intern.