New Seoul Mayor Oh won't be imitating his predecessor. Clockwise: 1. Touching comfort woman statue on city bus. 2. Post-its in office. 3. Pretend living in one-room, low income town while he has luxurious city residence. 4. To sec.: "Whatcha doin'? You smell good. Sniff Sniff." pic.twitter.com/DCJApiYIh9
Yellow dust warning lifted This photo taken with a 360-degree camera shows the Olympic Park under an azure sky in Seoul on March 30, 2021, after a yellow dust warning was lifted for the South Korean capital and the surrounding areas. (Yonhap)
Considering how packed Seoul always seems it is hard to believe it is going through a population decline:
Seoul’s population has fallen below 10 million for the first time in over 30 years, the city government said Wednesday.
The total number of inhabitants in the capital stood at 9,911,088 at the end of last year, with 9,668,465 citizens and 242,623 foreign nationals, the local government said, citing data from the ministries of interior and justice.
This marks the first time Seoul’s population has sunk below 10 million since it crossed the threshold in 1988.
Mass rallies bannedSignboards announcing bans on mass rallies are placed at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on Feb. 28, 2021. A Seoul court has placed bans on street rallies that conservative groups had planned to hold on March 1 Independence Movement Day, as concerns continue to mount over the spread of the new coronavirus in the capital city. (Yonhap)
Homeless infections Homeless people talk in front of Seoul Station on Jan. 29, 2021. The cumulative number of such people infected with COVID-19 there increased to 39. (Yonhap)
I guess we will see if this helps to slow the spread of COVID:
A street in Myeongdong, one of the busiest shopping districts in Seoul, is nearly empty, Monday, as people stay home to avoid infection by COVID-19. Gatherings of more than four people will be banned in the greater Seoul area as a stricter social distancing measure starting Wednesday. Yonhap
Gatherings of five people or more will be banned in the greater Seoul area in an effort to curb the ongoing spread of COVID-19 which has been showing no signs of abating.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and neighboring local governments in Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, Monday, the stricter social distancing measure will take effect from Wednesday and last until to Jan. 3, the period when many Christmas and year-end gatherings and events are expected to take place.
The ban on gatherings of more than four people is a stronger measure than restrictions that could be applied under the highest Level 3 social distancing, in which gatherings of 10 or more people are prohibited.
To me this number is more concerning than the daily case rate being over a 1,000 for five days:
People stand in line to take coronavirus tests at a temporary screening center in front of Seoul City Hall in downtown Seoul on Dec. 18, 2020. (Yonhap)
The government’s ongoing random testing, launched in the greater Seoul area at the beginning of this week, has identified nearly 300 cases of COVID-19 so far, a government agency on the coronavirus pandemic said Saturday.
According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, an additional 116 people were diagnosed with COVID-19 at the capital area random testing centers Friday, raising the five-day total to 286.
You can read more at the link, but this random testing shows that the coronavirus has likely spread to far more people than what is currently believed.
Lantern lighting fest listed as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage This undated file photo shows a lotus lantern festival in Seoul to celebrate Buddha’s Birthday. South Korea’s Lantern Lighting Festival, or “Yeondeunghoe” in Korean, has been officially inscribed as intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO, the government said on Dec. 16, 2020. The decision was made during the 15th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, taking place online. (Yonhap)
