Many Koreans still wary of taking off their mask indoors

Many Koreans aren't ready to take off their masks indoors. According to a survey by polling institution Real Research Korea from Dec. 5 to 9, 44.3 percent of the 3,800 people surveyed said they would “keep their masks on” no matter what....

A passerby takes off her mask temporarily at the Incheon airport on Dec. 9. [NEWS1]

Many Koreans aren't ready to take off their masks indoors.

According to a survey by polling institution Real Research Korea from Dec. 5 to 9, 44.3 percent of the 3,800 people surveyed said they would “keep their masks on” no matter what.

Korea is the only OECD member nation still requiring masks be worn in all indoor spaces, a regulation it has kept since October 2020.

This may change by the end of this week, however, with the government set to make an announcement on Friday on lifting the indoor mask regulation: fully, partially, or not at all.

University students' opinions are also divided on the matter.

“I think it’s safe to say that, one way or another, most people have developed immunity to the virus that causes Covid-19 infection,” said a 24-year-old student surnamed Kim at Yonsei University in Seoul. “I think the measure can be lifted so that people can exercise at their own discretion, wearing or not wearing their mask indoors.”

A graduate student surnamed Lim at Seoul National University feels otherwise.

“There are people getting sick left and right still, and these infected students are opting to join classes virtually,” Lim said, speaking with the JoongAng Ilbo on Tuesday.

Korea added 87,559 new cases of Covid-19 as of midnight Monday, according to the Health Ministry, marking the largest number of infections in three months. The last time that the count surpassed 90,000 was on Sept. 14, when new cases reached 93,949.

The total number of infections recorded in Korea was 28,302,474 as of Monday midnight.

The government has been mulling lifting the indoor mask mandate for weeks and has hosted discussions with medical experts on the matter. Options for partially lifting the measure include no longer requiring masks in indoor facilities except in medical facilities and on public transportation.

The health authorities have also been discussing the possibility of scrapping the quarantine requirement for those infected with Covid-19.

Anyone infected with Covid-19 in Korea is required to remain quarantined at their home or in a clinic for at least seven days.

Many of the students that the JoongAng Ilbo met on Tuesday were against lifting the quarantine measure.

“I don’t want to be in class with a bunch of infected people,” said one student attending a university in Seoul, adding that the universities should allow students who suspect they might be infected to join classes virtually.

Some universities have announced that they will scrap all virtual classes starting next semester, including the artificial intelligence departments of Korea University and Dongguk University.

BY BY LEE BYUNG-JUN, ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]