Stitching Handmade masks for those in need

Volunteers look at a stitched mask in the Nowon District building in Seoul, where they gathered to make masks, Wednesday. /Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

By Kim Se-jeong

More than 30 volunteers from Nowon District in Seoul kicked off a mask project in the district office building Wednesday morning to donate to needy people amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Those who knew how to operate a sewing machine began stitching, while others cut pieces of cotton, added pieces of elastic or ironed the masks. The completed masks were taken away by district officials for distribution.

“Healthy people can get masks without a problem, but old people and the sick can't go out to get masks. We wanted to do something for them,” district chief Oh Seung-rok said describing their motivation.

Originally, the district office thought they would have 100 volunteers.

“But the project went bigger because more than 300 people offered to help. I was totally surprised,” the district mayor said. “So we had to set up additional working stations at other locations in the district.”

The project will run for 20 days, and the district office aims to make more than 1,000 masks per day.

To address a public health concern for the volunteers, the district said it disinfected the venues constantly and created a two-meter distance between desks.

Lee Hwa-ryong, 50, said her motivation for volunteering was her sick father. “My father is not in a position to wait in line to buy masks. I've managed to get the masks for my dad so far. I decided to volunteer because these masks will help people like my father.”

Song Eun-soo, in her 50s, said she was motivated by the fact that she has spare time and knows how to use a sewing machine.

“Nowadays, I have time and I know how to do it, so I decided to volunteer,” she said. Song is a yoga teacher at a local gym which has been closed for almost two months now. “I haven't earned anything for two months now. That's sad, but instead I have spare time to do the work like this.”

Park Wan-jin, 22, was one of the youngest volunteers. “I am starting college this year but because the semester opening was delayed until later this month, I have spare time and wanted to do some meaningful work.”

The new coronavirus outbreak is ongoing with no end in sight and has caused an unprecedented mask shortage.

On Feb. 26, the government intervened in mask production and distribution. It purchased masks directly from the producers and sold them through post offices, NongHyup Bank's Hanaro marts and pharmacies. Yet, this hasn't helped much.

Starting this week, the government placed restrictions on mask purchases ― two masks per person per week.

From Wednesday, IT companies began offering apps that help people locate shops with available masks on their smartphones. But, some complained about the inaccuracy of the information and temporary system shutdowns.