Coronavirus in South Korea: partial reopening of beaches

Audio 01:27

Busan beach. The beaches have partially reopened in South Korea, especially in the south of the peninsula (Photo illustration). TED ALJIBE / AFP

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In South Korea, the beaches have partially reopened, especially in the south of the peninsula. Supervised swimming and compulsory social distancing on the sand.

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From our special correspondent in Busan, Stéphane Lagarde

The rules of social distancing resonate in Korean and English over the loudspeakers of Haeundae Beach, in Busan, South Korea. First day of swimming under the sun, and a funny impression for this young couple who came specially from Seoul to set foot in the water. “  Because of the coronavirus, we shouldn't go out too much. So to get things off the ground, that's fine,  ”says Ahn Soon-Hyun.

►Read also : South Korea: outbreak of coronavirus cases near Seoul 

From June 1 just under a third of the 267 Korean beaches can gradually reopen. Under a large black umbrella, 5 meters from the waves, there is Park Min-Bae, his wife and their two children. “  For us it's almost our first family outing since the start of the epidemic. The nursery school stayed closed and we spent a lot of time at home, so it feels really good,  ”he says. The two little girls wear the mask. “  We saw that we had to keep it in the news. Anyway, we would have liked to swim, but it's too cold.  (laughs) ”, continues Park Min-Bae. 

Recommended masks

In reality, masks are recommended but not compulsory, on the other hand the red “ 119  ” T-shirts  ensure that everyone stays at a good distance. “  Compared to previous years, the difference is that there are no umbrellas. The rules are very strict: when we can put them back, we will have to respect the rules of two meters apart anyway. And in the evening, we can no longer come and sing on the beach. In fact, we thought we would postpone the opening again, but for the merchants in the neighborhood, the beach is important  , ”explains rescuer Cho Song-Yong.

Merchants more demanding than bathers. "  Without the beach, I don't make any money,  " says the fish skewer seller.

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  • South Korea

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