Covid 19 - Dispatch from Seoul | The Itaewon Cluster
When South Korea managed to flatten the curve, the government decided to ease restrictions and recommendations. Strict social distancing got more loose and most of bars and clubs reopened their doors. All of those actions came in just as the country was getting ready for the biggest holiday break of the spring. This was a big test for South Korea and it did not go well. On the 1st of may week end, an infected person came to the busiest nightlife district in Seoul and went clubbing - he was infected. A couple weeks down the road, cases linked to that first patient rose above 130 and authorities are still tracking 7000 people who have possibly been on the routes of those positive patients. The Itaewon district has been shut down and what was once the busiest nightlife attraction of the South Korean capitals now resemble a ghost town. Furthermore, most of the places visited by patient 0 were clubs linked to the LGBTQ community - one that is already struggling in a very conservative society and that is already facing the backlash of this new cluster of cases.
The busiest nightlife district of Seoul now resemble a ghost-town.
The epicenter of this new cluster is located around the the clubs catering to the LGBTQ community.
The name of Queen club hidden behind A4 paper because of the fear of repercussion
Trunk club was another establishment visited by patient 0.
King Club was another place visited by patient 0 according to the routes shared by local authorities
The entire Itaewon district is now empty and local business have been forced to shut down
A lot of local business have been enjoying crowds for the past couple of weeks and have been now ordered to shut down.
All images by Tim Franco - get in touch if you are interested at timfranco@gmail.com