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

Basically, I think it means you won't have to bother with performative gestures in like, restaurants, CUs, Olive Youngs, and the like. It also means offices won't have to wear them for various situations where it's a bit ridiculous. Maybe department stores as well.

As someone else said, it will be gradual and the end of the stuff above will probably lead to masks no longer being worn in another tier of things like banks, post offices, some government buildings, kindergartens, pre-K, etc.

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 got heavily downvoted for saying I'm going to wear lighter masks. Lol. My only thought is, whatever. I caught COVID here while I was wearing a KF94 everywhere and only going out to work and shopping for supplies. I suspect the packed public transport had more of an impact then masks did and that's not going to change.

I'll probably just follow the majority. Can't see myself removing it at work anytime soon while all but a few students are still masked up. Definitely will go mask-free outside in spring as the weather warms up.

I got heavily downvoted for saying I'm going to wear lighter masks. Lol. My only thought is, whatever. I caught COVID here while I was wearing a KF94 everywhere and only going out to work and shopping for supplies. I suspect the packed public transport had more of an impact then masks did and that's not going to change.

I'll probably just follow the majority. Can't see myself removing it at work anytime soon while all but a few students are still masked up. Definitely will go mask-free outside in spring as the weather warms up.

You wear your mask outdoors?  I stopped wearing it outside the day they said you no longer had to.  I think after almost three years with a mask a lot of Koreans see it as some kind of security blanket and are reluctant to go without it.  From what I have seen so far today, I'm pretty disappointed.  I figured people would be eager to drop them. 

I think a lot of people do want to stop wearing them, but societal expectations and pressure kind of stagnate action. Everyone's just afraid of being judged or yelled at. No one wants to stand out and be "that guy".

But the people in my area are also kind of different. I've seen a few people trying to go without their masks even before the mandate was dropped. When they were told to put their masks on they did without any argument, but yeah. The itch is there haha.

While I think a lot of people do want to stop wearing them, I think there are some that don't. In particular introverts, people who are conscious about their looks, and people who got treated better with their masks on than off, either at work or in general interaction. Looks are far more neutral with the bottom half of the face covered and some people may have greater confidence or at least less anxiety.

Of course, a lot of this can be situational- maybe they want them on in the office or dealing with customers, but when they go out shopping with friends, enough of the damn things.

Older people might (or might not look younger so that can affect things one way or another.)

Plus there is the pollution factor. Even with no mandate, nice to get in the habit and having at least a few lying around for uber dusty days.

You wear your mask outdoors?  I stopped wearing it outside the day they said you no longer had to.  I think after almost three years with a mask a lot of Koreans see it as some kind of security blanket and are reluctant to go without it.  From what I have seen so far today, I'm pretty disappointed.  I figured people would be eager to drop them.

I don't want to be one of the only people not wearing a mask lest people see me and assume I never was ie. "one of those foreigners". It's entirely for social reasons. Considering how I was downvoted on Reddit by (most likely) non-Koreans it's clear people are still expecting each other to wear them. This way I avoid stress. I do take it off when I'm with my bf and he's not wearing his though, especially on good air days. Strength in numbers!

i have only worn the extremely light and cheap masks.  100, for 4,900 won.  and today, at both schools, I am the only one maskless aside from one other foreign co-worker. I havent started afternoon classes yet, so ill update later with how the students are doing it.  I plan to inform them all that they no longer need to wear the mask, but of course can choose to do so if they wish. 

Happy freedom day everyone.

I'm the only maskless person around today. All my students are fully decked out...no surprises here.

most of my students were shocked to see me without the mask today.  they all seemed to not know about the lifting of the mandate.  after explaining to them that it was now their choice, I had about 2 out of 10 in each class that opted to go maskless.

I had two students take their masks off during class today. I had a good chortle to myself. I went and grabbed my wife. She also had a bit of a laugh. Had to be careful though. Didn't want to embarrass them.
Both of the students looked like little chubby faced cherubs, with pearly smooth skin. Been what...nearly 3 years? They are both hitting 6th grade this year. A lot of changes that I've missed. Guess everyone will do a double take once demasking gets going, especially if they are long term students.

I had two students take their masks off during class today.

Not saying you're bad or you meant it in a bad way, it is a strange adjustment after all, especially like you said with long-termers. I think anyone with a long-term relationship who has seen changes or never seen their "true face" will have similar moments, but as you said, it's something we'll all need to be careful of.

Like I said, there's a lot of introverts or students with anxiety about their appearance. They will notice reactions from people. Also, we have to be careful not to mask shame them if they want to keep theirs on, just as we don't want children who take theirs off to be shamed. Hopefully we don't place value on a person or their character based on their decision to remain masked or unmasked.

That being said, it IS an English classroom and there are times we might need to see each other's mouths and faces for the sake of learning. The safe space stops there.

I think you misunderstood Marti. Two of my students just took their masks off of their own volition. I just said they could if they chose to, and if mom and dad were ok with it. Small steps and all.

Yeah, no, I'd never intentionally embarrass them. We grinned at them...my wife told them how good they looked, and we exited to have a bit of a laugh together. Boys coming into puberty don't take kindly to body comments.

Yeah, should of just said "two boys took their masks off today",

I think you misunderstood Marti. Two of my students just took their masks off of their own volition. I just said they could if they chose to, and if mom and dad were ok with it. Small steps and all.

Yeah, no, I'd never intentionally embarrass them. We grinned at them...my wife told them how good they looked, and we exited to have a bit of a laugh together. Boys coming into puberty don't take kindly to body comments.

Yeah, should of just said "two boys took their masks off today",

Sorry, I didn't want to insinuate you did anything wrong. Like I said, we will all have such moments, just that we need to be careful like you said. Trust me, I noticed your concern.

Just as a supplementary reminder we need to be careful.

I know this isn't what a lot of people want to hear, but I think as teachers we need to accept that we will be exposed to pathogens at a higher rate than those in other occupations. I don't think teachers, especially language teachers, should be allowed to wear masks indefinitely. I would rather get Covid every few years than spend the rest of my life teaching with a mask on.

First day of the new school year for public school teachers. What is mask usage like for teachers in your school? Are any of the teachers at your school teaching without a mask on? Everyone here is putting their masks on when a student comes into the office or they have to go teach a class.

About 80 - 90% of the teachers at my 4 schools are wearing masks consistently. That percentage seems about right for the students as well.

All the teachers in my school are still wearing masks. I've only seen 2 students here today, and they were both wearing masks too.
I've kept wearing mine even with the ease on their usage. At the gym, most aren't wearing it anymore though.

Not a school, but everyone in my company is still wearing masks, except when sat at their desks. And some nutters wear them even then.

Basically, nothing has changed at all.

Not a school, but everyone in my company is still wearing masks, except when sat at their desks. And some nutters wear them even then.

Basically, nothing has changed at all.

90% here are wearing masks at their desks. 100% when they get up to go to a class. Maybe summer and hotter weather will bring less masks.

I didn't wear during desk warming season.  But I will wear at school for the first couple of weeks then shed completely just because other teachers and students are.  Not at my desk or in my rooms but only when I go to class.  I normally hate the things but I kind of did the same the last 3 years taking off as soon as I was away from the kids though one of my coteachers was nearly hysterical if I took it off back then.