It has been three years since the outbreak of COVID-19 at the end of 2019 and the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared it as a pandemic on March 11, 2020. After the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Korean government adjusted and implemented various levels of social distancing measures to suppress the spread of COVID-19, such as restrictions on gatherings and limited operating hours to minimize social contact. Furthermore, as part of the intensified vaccination campaign, Korean government established largescale vaccination centers for COVID-19 prevention and systematically supplied vaccines by categorizing the vaccination recipients based on priority. In addition, online education was expanded, leading to a transition of most classes to online formats in schools and educational institutions.
The government also strengthened entry restrictions and quarantine measures to minimize domestically transmitted cases by enhancing quarantine measures for incoming travelers. In this manner, after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, Korea has pursued new strategies to achieve longterm coexistence with the coronavirus. This has had a significant impact on individuals' daily lives and social activities, requiring the adaptation of new lifestyles and daily routines by the citizens. Furthermore, in certain industries, businesses experienced a decline or had to shut down, resulting in the jobless rate and income reductions for some individuals.
As the significant damages caused by COVID-19 have somewhat alleviated, and with the stabilization brought by the development of various vaccines and treatment methods, President Yoon Suk Yeol practically declared the end of the COVID-19 pandemic on May 11, 2023, stating, "I am pleased that after three years and four months, the people have regained their daily lives." During the meeting held at the Blue House Presidential Office in the morning, the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCHQ) announced that the COVID-19 crisis alert level had been downgraded from "serious" to "caution," and it has been implemented in earnest since June. In addition, the mandatory 7-day quarantine for confirmed cases has been changed to a recommended 5-day period, and the recommendation for PCR testing after entry has been lifted. Lastly, the mandatory indoor mask-wearing requirement has been lifted in all places except for hospitals with inpatient rooms. COVID-19 has now entered its endemic phase.
‘Endemic’ is a Korean term for ‘endemic disease.’ Originally, the term describes a disease that is commonly present among residents of a specific geographic area. In that sense, the COVID-19 endemic can be understood as a form of infectious disease where COVID-19 continues to circulate and spread within certain regions without being completely eradicated. Some commonly known examples of endemic diseases include influenza, malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid fever, and cholera. There are a few differences between 'endemic' and 'pandemic.'
The first difference between the two terms lies in the scope of occurrence. Endemic occurrences, which are consistently present within a particular region or geographic area, are frequently observed in that specific locale and might entail a portion of the population having developed a certain level of immunity. In contrast, a pandemic refers to the rapid and widespread outbreak of a large-scale disease on a national, continental, or global level. Furthermore, the majority of the population lacks immunity to a pandemic disease.
The second difference lies in the speed and extent of spread. Endemics spread relatively slowly and are limited to specific regions or communities, whereas pandemics spread rapidly and affect countries, continents, or even the entire world.
Lastly, the response levels vary. In an endemic state, response and management can be carried out at the regional or national level, whereas in a pandemic, intercountry cooperation is necessary, and broad-scale measures and responses are required. Since the declaration of the endemic in Korea, there have been significant changes in areas such as travel, transportation, shopping, education, consumption, fashion, and beauty.
1. Changes in Travel and Transportation
The most pronounced changes are observed in the field of travel and transportation. Since the end of COVID-19, there has been a tremendous surge in domestic and international travel demand. In May, online shopping transactions for travel and transportation experienced a staggering 40% surge compared to the previous year. It is reported that this is the first time that the monthly transaction volume for travel and transportation services has exceeded 2 trillion won. It is interpreted that the significant surge in travel demand in May is attributed to the declaration of the endemic phase, which unleashed the accumulated travel demand that had been suppressed since the start of the COVID-19 situation.
2. Changes in the Fashion and Beauty Industry
According to a survey conducted by ‘Gmarket’ and ‘Auction’ from May 16th to 20th, targeting 5,320 customers, ‘Fashion & Beauty’ was the category with the highest expenditure, accounting for 32% of the total spending, following the declaration of the endemic phase. There has been a natural increase in consumption of outdoor clothing and beauty products.
3. Changes in Work and Gatherings
With the transition to the endemic phase, companies that had implemented COVID-19 prevention measures such as business travel restrictions, bans on gatherings, and remote work are gradually returning to previous practices. Nowadays, employees have mixed feelings of both appreciation and apprehension towards these changes. With the resurgence of company gatherings such as work dinners and social events that had been absent for over three years, there has been an increase in corporate gatherings. Consequently, personal time that was previously cherished after work has diminished, and there is an increased awareness of being observed by superiors. Recent changes have led to a phenomenon known as 'endemic blues' among employees, where individuals experience feelings of depression or sadness.
4. Changes in the Field of Education
After COVID-19, there has been a shift towards digital forms of education, with a significant increase in remote and online learning. As a result, the university barely started non-face-to-face classes while repeatedly canceling and reinforcing classes, and online classes have made a lot of progress over the past three years.
5. Changes in the Field of the Job Market
The job market has also undergone a transition to non-face-to-face digital formats, with the majority of companies accelerating automation in their production. Due to the decrease in labor supply resulting from these changes, the job market has undergone significant transformations. Consequently, there has been an increase in graduates who opt to forgo job-seeking and postpone their employment. In response to these changes in the labor market and recruitment trends, universities are consistently putting efforts into cultivating talents with the same level of competencies as experienced professionals through programs aimed at enhancing practical skills.
