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| A woman walks past a shop selling Christmas decorations at Namdaemun Market in central Seoul, Dec. 21. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
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| A woman wearing a face mask walks toward a building in central Seoul, Dec. 21. The government has warned of increased infection risks as some churches reportedly are set to host year-end gatherings in defiance of social distancing orders. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Christmas Day is the latest victim of COVID-19. On the bleak Christmas Eve, the empty Seoul downtown streets leave people cheerless. The spirit of Christmas is missing.
The Salvation Army's bell ringer is solitary as there are few passers-by. Donations are hard to come by.
Reeling from the pandemic, people's hearts are frozen and their wallets are zipped. Generosity, kindness and warmth are missing, causing people to ask each other, "What kind of Christmas are we having?"
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| A merchant in Namdaemun Market waits for customers, Dec. 21. The association of startups and small business owners urged the government to offer government subsidies for small business owners suffering the consequences of the government's ban on gatherings of five people or more. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
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| A little girl holding a gift walks toward a woman standing outside a department store at Seoul Station, Dec. 21. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
Shop owners find Christmas decorations don't help attract customers. Not knowing what to do, they sit helplessly in their decorated stores without expecting customers to drop by. They know finding the culprit for their slow business is meaningless.
Blaming doesn't help them get the good old Christmas days back. But the tightened social distancing order is still cruel to them.
"Do not gather. Disperse. Be at home." The government's repeated, forceful caution disturbs them. People are encouraged to be stuck at home. Gatherings of five or more people are banned.
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| A reflection of a decorated Christmas tree is seen in this photo taken in central Seoul, Dec. 21. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
The empty streets ironically are reminiscent of the festive, bustling Christmas season people had in the past. Around this time of the year, the shopping district of Myeong-dong used to be so crowded that pedestrians found it hard to move around. Coffee shops were full of customers and it was tough to find seats.
Christmas was the reason to gather. It was the reason to celebrate. With the lingering pandemic, however, Christmas became a reason for worry. Family gatherings, throwing parties to celebrate Christmas became a sin. People celebrate Christmas in an unprecedented way: in the dark, depressed and fearful.
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