Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
Korean government pressed to lift indoor mask rules
Elementary students in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, attend class wearing masks, May 27, 2020. Newsis
By Lee Hyo-jin
Korea only OECD country still mandating masks for all indoor settings
By Lee Hyo-jin
Calls are growing for the government to ease indoor mask rules in Korea, as it remains the only OECD member country requiring masks to be worn in all indoor settings. Other countries such as Denmark, Israel, Italy and Germany have eased their rules somewhat, obligating people to wear masks in certain spaces and situations, most critically in medical institutions and nursing homes and on public transport.
A growing number of parents and doctors are demanding that the mandate to be lifted specifically for children of elementary school age or below, arguing that prolonged mask wearing has harmed young children's language and social learning.
Shin Min-hyang, head of the solidarity of human rights for parents and students, a civic group against mask mandates, strongly believes that masks do more harm than good to young children.
“For nearly two years, students have been forced to cover their faces all day at school without any exemption. A lot of them have been suffering from allergies, skin inflammation, irritated eyes and even breathing difficulties,” Shin told The Korea Times over the phone, Friday.
“Moreover, recent studies show that facemasks are slowing children's language and social development. The developmental delays will have lasting effects on the young generation.”
Her group has repeatedly demanded the Ministry of Education make masks optional at school, but the ministry has passed on the responsibility to schools and regional education offices without providing specific guidelines, she said.
“It is unfair to force the mask mandate on kids when adults are now enjoying mask-free lives at restaurants and bars,” Shin added, urging the government to lift the mask rule for schools immediately.
Members of civic groups against mask mandates hold a press conference in Gwanghwamun, central Seoul, June 21, demanding the government lift the rules. Yonhap
Some doctors have also begun to question the effectiveness of mask requirements.
“The United States and European countries that relaxed their indoor mask mandates six months earlier did not witness a surge in COVID-19 patients or collapse of the pandemic response system,” claimed a statement released by Gyeonggi-do Medical Association, consisting of doctors in Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 26.
The association insisted that there don't seem to be any social benefits of mask wearing now that the majority of the public have developed antibodies against the coronavirus, citing a recent government study which found that 97.4 percent of the population have obtained antibodies either by vaccination or natural infection. Experts note however that the presence of antibodies does not necessarily indicate that someone is immune to the coronavirus.
Calls to lift the indoor mask rules are coming from some in political circles as well.
During a National Assembly meeting attended by Peck Kyong-ran, head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), and Vice Health Minister Lee Ki-il, members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) asked the health authorities to review easing the indoor mask rules for children.
“Experts say that masks are having negative effects on young children's emotional and social development, who learn speech by looking at others' lips,” PPP floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young said.
In response, the Ministry of Health and Welfare reiterated its stance that dropping the mask requirement is still under review.
“We are gathering various experts' opinions and monitoring public opinion. There are various reasons (why the mask rules cannot be lifted yet) such as potential spread of seasonal influenza this winter,” senior health official Park Hyang said during a briefing, Friday.
Post-entry PCR test requirement to be lifted Saturday
A COVID-19 testing center at the arrival hall of Incheon International Airport / Yonhap
Meanwhile, the government has decided to lift the post-entry PCR test requirement on overseas arrivals on Saturday, removing the last remaining travel-related COVID-19 restriction.
Travelers arriving from overseas, regardless of their nationality or vaccination history, will no longer have to receive the test within one day after arriving in Korea. But the health authorities noted that anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms will still be able to receive a free PCR test at a public health center within three days of arrival.
In addition, in-person visits at nursing homes and long-term care hospitals will be allowed from Oct. 4, as the government has lifted the ban that was put in place in July to protect the elderly.