How COVID-19 affects daily lives of Koreans

Myeong-dong, a popular shopping district in Seoul for both Koreans and non-Koreans, remains virtually empty, Saturday, due to fears of community infections of the novel coronavirus. / Yonhap

By Bahk Eun-ji

The soaring number of COVID-19 infections has drastically changed the daily lives of both Koreans and non-Koreans here, a survey showed Monday.

The Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) conducted an online survey for four days from Feb. 24, on changes to daily life due to the contagious virus outbreak. The survey found more people are tending to stay indoors to avoid using public facilities and staying away from public areas where many people gather. The survey involved 204 Koreans as well as 175 foreigners who have visited or are staying in Korea.

When multiple answers were allowed, 78.29 percent of Koreans and 69.61 percent of foreigners said their working environment had changed the most after the outbreak of the epidemic. More attention to hygiene including wearing masks and using hand sanitizers followed with 68.14 percent of Koreans and 69.14 percent of foreigners.

When asked about what they do during their time indoors, Koreans and foreigners responded differently. More than 81 percent of foreigners said they spent most of their time reading books, while 71 percent of Koreans said they watched TV. However, watching YouTube came second for both groups with 67.65 percent of Koreans and 77.14 percent of foreigners. Spending time with family was high on the list for foreigners at 64 percent but much lower for Koreans with only 18.63 percent.

When it comes to a grocery shopping, 84.31 percent of Koreans tend to use online stores, compared to 52.57 percent of foreigners. More than 58 percent of foreigners prefer shopping for groceries at local supermarkets.

Both foreigners and Koreans said they chose traveling as the first thing they want to do when the virus spread subsides with 70.86 percent and 62.75 percent respectively. Meeting friends and acquaintances followed. Although going to a movie or concerts came third in the list of the foreigners group with 29.71 percent, only 17.16 percent of Koreans said they want to partake in such cultural activities. For Koreans, eating out came third with 25.49 percent and 24.57 percent of foreigners.