COVID-19 Diaries: Seoul, 167 Days In

77 days ago, we interviewed James from Canada who was on extended vacation in Seoul during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in South Korea. Now that things in South Korea seem to be under control, we checked in on him to find out what’s changed.

Q: Hi James, welcome back! What’s happened since the last time we spoke? Are you still in Seoul and have you been well?

A: It feels like the time has flown by without much really happening.  I’ve been hanging around Seoul, bouncing between a few guesthouses (and the odd hotel room when I’m feeling decadent, haha). I’ve spent a lot of the time seeing what I can of the city and some of the surrounding areas like Paju, although a lot of attractions like museums and sporting events remain closed.  Parks and restaurants have remained open the entire time here, so they’re what I’ve been focused on. I’ve also been taking some online courses to keep my mind engaged.

Heard you’ve since found yourself a job in Ireland? How did you manage to do that when most companies around the world are either in lockdown or cost cutting?

I’d like to say it was wise planning on my part but it was a lot of luck. When I arrived in Korea in January I knew I’d needed to start looking for work soon, and even though I wasn’t searching that aggressively I saw one job I was extremely interested in and applied. After a couple interviews and a skills competition I was offered a position and immediately took it—by this time, the effects of COVID-19 on the economy were becoming apparent and new job postings were drying up fast.

Earlier in March many countries restricted entry for visitors from South Korea. Will that pose any problems for your move to Ireland?

I’m planning on riding it out here as long as possible to make entry into Ireland as trouble-free as I can. I’ve got permission to stay until July 8th but I’ve heard of tourists able to get a month extension, so I might try to do that.  I’m also waiting on a work visa and I have no idea how the virus will impact the timeline of receiving that, either. Fortunately my new employer put conditions in my contract that allow for the start date to be pushed back in the event the virus impacts my arrival.

What are the numbers of COVID-19 infected, recovered and demised in Seoul right now? What about in Korea as a whole?

I’m not really sure about the numbers specific to Seoul, but I believe the country is around 11,000 total infections.  For a while it seemed like it was done with, as there was a span of numerous days with zero community transmissions, but there’s been a recent spike around the neighbourhood of Itaewon, with 25-35 new cases per day for much of this week.

South Korea began easing restrictions a month or so ago. How did that change life for you? 

Honestly I barely noticed the change. The impact has mostly been limited to students, sporting events and cultural sites, and the easing of restrictions didn’t apply to those. Compared to discussions I’ve had with friends and family in Canada and the US regarding the conditions in those places, it feels like we haven’t even had restrictions here.

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Now that there’s been a new outbreak in Seoul in recent days, how do you think things will change again in South Korea? 

I’ve definitely noticed a bit of an anti-foreigner sentiment following this new outbreak. The neighbourhood the new outbreak occurred in, Itaewon, is very popular among expats, so I think some residents are more wary of foreigners. I’ve had a couple of negative interactions with strangers in recent days, situations that were clearly due to me being a foreigner, and that’s extremely unusual for Korea.

You’re from Canada so what are your thoughts on the situation there in comparison to the situation in South Korea? 

Even though there have been stints of boredom here, I’m extremely thankful I decided to stay in Seoul rather than head home. Most people I’ve spoken with back home are a bit stir-crazy now, unable to go out or do much.

What advice do you have for people around the world who have lost their jobs because of COVID-19 and are hoping to get a new one too?

That’s tough, as I feel I was extremely fortunate to get the one I did. I guess I would suggest doing anything they can to advance their career prospects with their time off, through online courses, practicing as much as they can, or whatever could apply to their line of work.

Which 3 items or people are now most important to you?

My laptop, my boots, and my backpack.

Lastly, what else have you learned in the time since we last spoke that you didn’t know before?

I kind of knew this already, but it’s really becoming apparent to me how much I miss work. I’m extremely stoked to get to Ireland and start working again.

Once James gets to Ireland and settles in, he plans to return to Nova Scotia in Canada to visit his family for a bit. “And then get to know Ireland as well as possible. I’m interested in learning the Irish language as well, and hope to take some night courses in Dublin.” You can follow him as he does this through his blog, distancefromnormal.com. 

Follow the latest in our COVID-19 Diaries series here.

If you’re in a country that has been affected by the novel coronavirus and would like to share information about the situation where you’re at, do get in touch with us here.

Other interviews with James:
COVID-19 Diaries: The Situation In Seoul, South Korea, 90 Days In

Photographs courtesy and copyright of James. Interviewer: Sy
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