All empty everywhere: Nepali workers describe life in South Korea under Covid-19
Nepalis are limited to workplaces and their homes, as coronavirus shuts down city after city.Women wearing masks to prevent contracting the coronavirus take a walk at a Han River park in Namyangju, South Korea. Reuters
For the last three years, the South Korean city of Hwaseong has been a second home for Amir Tamang Yonjan. Whenever he gets any free time from work at a chemical factory, Yonjan likes to travel across the city and meet his Nepali friends.
But for the last month or so, Yonjan’s movement has been heavily circumscribed. He leaves his apartment in the morning, goes to work and comes home in the evening. He doesn’t go anywhere else because there’s nowhere for him to go. Like many other cities in South Korea, Hwaseong, a city in the Gyeonggi Province, has turned into a ghost town in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Public movement has been heavily affected. You will hardly see anyone on the roads these days,” Yonjan told the Post over the phone from Hwaseong. “I miss that vibrant city life. Public transport used to be crowded. Now, it’s all empty, everywhere.”
South Korea has been most affected, after China, by the Covid-19 outbreak. On Saturday alone, 174 additional coronavirus cases were reported in the country, taking the national tally to 7,313, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, the death toll has reached 50.
The spread of coronavirus has brought South Korea, the world's 12th-largest economy, to a standstill. Despite the South Korean government enacting stringent prevention, control and testing measures, as many as 60 countries have imposed travel bans or quarantine on arrivals from South Korea.
There are an estimated 60,000 Nepalis in South Korea, with over 3,000 in Hwaseong alone. So far, no Nepali in South Korea has been reported to have been infected with Covid-19 but for a majority of them, life has come to a halt. All Yonjan and his roommate—another Nepali worker—have are the internet and a television in their room as their connection to the outside world. They keep themselves up to date on the situation from the health authorities and follow a fixed timetable to buy groceries, which they make sure last them at least a week.
“We have not met anyone recently. Everyone is inside their home. On weekends, Nepalis generally get together and have fun,” said Yonjan. “No Nepali public events have been organised and even those already scheduled have been postponed. We are keeping in touch only through the internet.”
Nepali workers have been travelling to South Korea for work since 2008 under the Employment Permit System. Considered to have better income opportunities, South Korea is one of the most popular destinations for Nepali migrants, with thousands vying for a place in the country every year.
But the coronavirus outbreak is now impacting their incomes too. Although work has continued at their workplaces for Yonjan and others, their work hours have decreased.
“There is less work in most companies now, although operations have continued,” said Sima Lama, another Nepali who has been working in Hwaseong for over four years now. “There is no overtime and everyone is working their basic hours. This means less income for us.”
The Nepal government, in a travel advisory, has already advised its citizens to refrain from non-essential travel to countries affected by Covid-19, including South Korea, to prevent the spread of the disease to Nepal and among Nepalis.
But not everyone wants to stay in Nepal. While Nepali workers in South Korea are reeling under the terror of Covid-19, there are workers in Nepal who want to travel to South Korea and resume their jobs, fearing the loss of well-paying jobs if they do not report back on time.
One of them is Lil Bahadur Gurung, who returned home to Tanahun in late January for a break. Gurung’s employer has been calling him to resume his work, but he is worried.
“My family is scared. They are hesitant about me leaving,” said Gurung. “But I managed to convince them that nothing will happen to me. If there was any serious problem, why would my employer ask me to come?”
Gurung believes if he remains careful and takes care of personal hygiene, he will not catch the disease. He is all set to leave this Monday to resume his work in Seosan, a city in the South Chungcheong Province.
“Our families are worried. If the outbreak becomes as massive as in Wuhan [China], then it will be difficult to repatriate Nepalis as there are thousands of us here,” said Yonjan. “We will only consider returning if the situation worsens.”
Yonjan doesn’t want to return to Nepal; he would rather that Hwaseong returned to its vibrant, lively self.
“There used to be people everywhere,” he said. “Days off meant meeting Nepalis and having fun. The city is silent now.”
Frequently asked questions about the coronavirus outbreak
UPDATED as of September 22, 2020
What is Covid-19? Covid-19, short for coronavirus disease, is an illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, short for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Common symptoms of the disease include fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
How contagious is Covid-19? Covid-19 can spread easily from person to person, especially in enclosed spaces. The virus can travel through the air in respiratory droplets produced when a sick person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. As the virus can also survive on plastic and steel surfaces for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up to 24 hours, any contact with such surfaces can also spread the virus. Symptoms take between two to 14 days to appear, during which time the carrier is believed to be contagious.
Where did the virus come from? The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China in late December. The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that is responsible for everything from the common cold to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). After an initial outbreak in Wuhan that spread across Hubei province, eventually infecting over 80,000 and killing more than 3,000, new infection rates in mainland China have dropped. However, the disease has since spread across the world at an alarming rate.
What is the current status of Covid-19?
The World Health Organisation has called the ongoing outbreak a “pandemic” and urged countries across the world to take precautionary measures. Covid-19 has spread to 213 countries and territoriesaround the world and infected more than 31,405,983 people with 967,505 deaths and 22,990,260 recoveries. In South Asia, India has reported the highest number of infections at 5,557,573 with 88,943 deaths. While Pakistan has reported 306,304 confirmed cases with 6,420 deaths. Nepal has so far reported 65,276 cases with 427 deaths.
How dangerous is the disease?
The mortality rate for Covid-19 is estimated to be 3.6 percent, but new studies have put the rate slightly higher at 5.7 percent. Although Covid-19 is not too dangerous to young healthy people, older individuals and those with immune-compromised systems are at greater risk of death. People with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease, or those who’ve recently undergone serious medical procedures, are also at risk.
How do I keep myself safe? The WHO advises that the most important thing you can do is wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol content. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands. Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces like your computers and phones. Avoid large crowds of people. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist for longer than a few days.
Is it time to panic?
No. The government has imposed a lockdown to limit the spread of the virus. There is no need to begin stockpiling food, cooking gas or hand sanitizers. However, it is always prudent to take sensible precautions like the ones identified above.
Chandan Kumar Mandal was the environment and migration reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering labour migration and governance, as well as climate change, natural disasters, and wildlife.
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