Rewards for reporting banned gatherings draws mixed reactions
Signs at a restaurant in Jongno District, Seoul, read that gatherings of five or more people are banned following the government's anti-coronavirus guidelines in this Dec. 23 photo. / Korea Times file
By Lee Hyo-jin
Citizens are showing mixed reactions to a system rewarding people who report violations of social distancing rules to the authorities, whether to view it as an effective way of containing the COVID-19 spread, or an unnecessary policy violating privacy by making people spy on each other.
Following the government's strengthened social distancing measures, private gatherings of five or more people have been banned nationwide since Dec. 24.
In order to encourage public participation and cooperation, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced it will reward 100 people who make report violators with a gift voucher worth 100,000 won ($92), which can be used in traditional markets and local stores. Many local governments are following suit, with some offering bigger rewards.
The reports can be made through the app “e-people” by attaching a photo or video.
“The reward system makes people spy on their neighbors,” said an office worker in her 20s surnamed Joo, living in Songpa District, southeastern Seoul.
“I read on the internet that some people keep an eye on how much delivery food their neighbors order, and listen to the noises coming from their homes to identify how many people are in there,” she added.
A public petition was posted on Cheong Wa Dae website, Wednesday, calling on the government to retract the “inhumane” policy which only serves to create conflict.
“People experiencing economic hardships are using the system to make money,” the petitioner wrote.
On the other hand, others view that the system helps the public to follow quarantine measures by raising awareness on the seriousness of the current pandemic situation. “I don't see a big problem with the system. If people abide by the rules in the first place, there won't be any trouble or conflicts,” an office worker living in Daegu said.
The number of reports on quarantine rule violators has surged this month. According to the ministry, there were 27,851 reports and complaints on antivirus measure violations as of Dec.29, more than double the amount in November of 10,036.