Korea to lift mask mandate for most indoor spaces Jan. 30

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/01/119_343965.html

Korea to lift mask mandate for most indoor spaces Jan. 30

How many people will actually remove their masks? And will schools implement their own rules regarding masks?

I will be, for one. My wife has already said 'no-way' will she keep on wearing hers for some time yet. My students are back on the 30th of Jan, and I reckon everyone will be masked-up...Knowing my parents, I can't see them letting their brood be maskless when confined with other kids. I also think that the public in general around my area will keep masks on for a few weeks into Feb, before a gradual liberation starts happening. Many people will be anxious about losing their masks...many are still wearing them on the street.

More likely that they mean February 30th.

Hasn't everyone in Korea had Covid already by now?

마기꾼's around the country are in a panic

Hasn't everyone in Korea had Covid already by now?

Officially 58%.
Although, that's just the total case number/ population. Many contracted it more than once and this 58% doesn't take those into account.

Had a look at the Teaching in Korea reddit. A few interesting perspectives: https://www.reddit.com/r/teachinginkorea/comments/10gkxej/mask_mandate_is_being_lifted_what_are_you_going/

I thought it was generally expected for teachers to be exposed to pathogens at a greater rate than the general population.

Today we can stop wearing masks! Except at hospitals, pharmacies and on
public transportation.

This has been three years I will try hard to forget. It has been the longest
time I have continuously stayed in Korea. We have always managed to
escape this place at least once a year before this.

I am REALLY looking forward to ten days on Samui in the near future.

Today we can stop wearing masks! Except at hospitals, pharmacies and on
public transportation.

This has been three years I will try hard to forget. It has been the longest
time I have continuously stayed in Korea. We have always managed to
escape this place at least once a year before this.

I am REALLY looking forward to ten days on Samui in the near future.

It's good that you're excited but I guarantee major stores are still gonna enforce it. The government can't make Lotte Mart enforce it.

Lotte Mart can still enforce it.

https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230129000115

The day has come. But most people were wearing masks on my way to work this morning. And every teacher in school today still has their mask on. Has anyone's school made an announcement on what will be expected?

I posted the same in another thread.

Most people were wearing masks on my way to work this morning. And every teacher in school today still has their mask on. Has anyone's school made an announcement on what will be expected?

I posted the same in another thread.

Most people were wearing masks on my way to work this morning. And every teacher in school today still has their mask on. Has anyone's school made an announcement on what will be expected?

Ooops, sorry.

Today we can stop wearing masks! Except at hospitals, pharmacies and on
public transportation.

This has been three years I will try hard to forget. It has been the longest
time I have continuously stayed in Korea. We have always managed to
escape this place at least once a year before this.

I am REALLY looking forward to ten days on Samui in the near future.

The mask mandate has nothing to do with the travel restrictions.

When the outdoor mask mandate was lifted, nothing really happened for a few weeks. People kept wearing masks and slowly you could see more and more going maskless. I don't expect any   major changes for now. Perhaps when the flu season is over in April.

The mask mandate has nothing to do with the travel restrictions.

Maybe not in this country, but it certainly did in Thailand.

Yeah, no difference this morning, everyone still wearing their masks so far. Pretty sure all of my usual places will still be requiring them regardless, too. More and more people will begin to drop as the weather begins to warm up, maybe.

At my elementary school (I think it came down from the Office of Education) they have said that when students are speaking, singing, chanting etc they should still wear masks.  So that means 'masks as usual' in the English classroom but not necessary in the office (judging by two office colleagues without masks on at the moement)

I went to my gym before school this morning.  I was the only one not wearing a mask.  If they had asked me to put it on, I would've.  But the one guy working there acknowledged me and didn't say a thing.  So, I kept it off for an hour workout.  Much more comfortable.  We'll see if the gym has a sign up in English tomorrow about still needing to wear masks. 

Everyone still wearing masks in my office this morning, I haven't been told anything about what the mask expectations will be going forward, so until I'm told otherwise I'm just going to assume that everyone should keep their masks on at all times while at school.

We'll see how things are at my gym tonight.

I was just told that EMart is still going with masks.