The sun rises behind a rabbit installation at Haeundae Beach in the southeastern port city of Busan on Jan. 1, 2023, as visitors gather around the monument to view the new year’s first sunrise and make their new year’s wishes. The monument has been set up to mark the Year of the Rabbit in 2023 under the Chinese zodiac. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — As most of the COVID-19 restrictions that kept people cooped up during the pandemic period have been lifted, a growing number of people are setting up more active plans for the new year.
The number of passengers using the routes between South Korea and Japan totaled 638,189 in the October to November period of last year, a dramatic increase of 4,040.9 percent year on year, according to statistics from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The number of passengers using South Korea to U.S. routes also jumped by 219.6 percent from 115,788 to 370,060 during the same period.
“In the past, I didn’t travel overseas much. However, after going through the pandemic period, I felt there is a big difference between not going and not being able to go,” a 30-year-old office worker Lee Da-won said.
“After travel restrictions were lifted, I made plans to travel overseas.”
There are many people who have started exercising again after staying away from exercise either due to a lack of motivation or facility closures during the pandemic period.
“There are expected to be changes to indoor mask mandates this year. I’d like to work up a sweat without having to wear a mask this year,” a 27-year-old office worker Lee Ga-hyun said.
Some people show a desire to enjoy cultural performances such as concerts and festivals more actively.
“Some rock festivals came back last year. I’ll attend such festivals this year as the lineups should be more diverse.” said a 31-year-old individual surnamed Shim who lives in Gyeonggi Province,.
Experts expect this year to be more dynamic as travel, sports and culture consumption increases.
“The lifting of indoor mask mandates should become a turning point. The mass culture of clustering in indoor spaces will revive,” said Choi Hang-sub, a professor of sociology at Kookmin University.
“Even at school, relationships that relied on eye contact will return to normal.”
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
