In the middle of a pandemic, curfew rules and travel restrictions are enforced everywhere we go. With the recent Chuseok holiday, there had been concerns over increased intercity travel and the vast amount of people gathering in small crowded spaces. We were fortunate that although the government strongly discouraged travel for Chuseok and suggested virtual family reunions instead, travel was not strictly forbidden. In fact, considering the ample COVID-19 prevention measures in Korea, some travel should be okay — but with a number of caveats.

The main reason why a limited amount of travel is still possible in Korea is because the government has been handling the pandemic well. Even during the early days of the pandemic, the government took safety precautions very seriously, and after Korea’s first major outbreak in late February, it succeeded in “flattening the curve”, earning international praise. A few weeks after the second wave erupted, Korea once again managed to keep the situation relatively under control. Korea’s prevention strategy of  mandating masks for public transportation, enacting physical distancing rules in public places, testing aggressively, and tracing contacts seemed to be effective. Since the government has done its work, the rest is left to us. If we travel, we should practice proper hygiene and social distancing measures: wearing a mask while in a public facility, not touching our face, washing our hands often, and staying at a safe distance from others.

But how do we know if we are “qualified” for that limited travel? Well, while it is generally safer to stay at home, a little travel might in fact be helpful in some cases. This is personal and different people can view the same situation differently. For instance, some might think that students who had been spending an entire year racing against endless deadlines and exams deserve a little break, given that they still closely follow physical distancing measures. Others might argue that they should still stay at home until COVID-19 subsides. Some might believe that they can visit their close family members and relatives, who are dying to see them again after so long, while some might think that family gathering is not really an urgent matter. But what about expats who have toiled overseas for years, leaving their beloved family behind, or people with a family member whose days are numbered?  Since different individuals have different needs and deal with different situations, who are we to judge others who travel without knowing their full story? There is no objective way to measure how much traveling is needed. Thus, the decision of whether or not to travel is totally up to us, keeping in mind that when we travel, we are exposing ourselves to more contact with others, and others are exposed to whatever harm we may bring.

With all that in mind, there is another factor left to consider: solidarity for those who choose to skip physical travel. This is where things get tricky, as social jealousy is prone to occur. Some argue that by travelling, we are being selfish since we would nullify the efforts of those who choose to stay at home to prevent further spread of the virus. This is not always true since with proper precautions, this consequence could be significantly minimized. Still, it is indeed insensitive to brag about our Chuseok adventures on social media. It does not mean that we have to travel in secret, as if avoiding getting “caught”; we just need to reduce the possibility of others judging our decision to travel without knowing the full reason behind it. If someone asks, we should try our best to explain properly, but otherwise, why should we dishonor the sacrifice of others by taunting them with what they have chosen to give up for the greater good? Ultimately, the problem is not about the act of travelling during Chuseok itself, but more about the “why” and “how”.

There is more to suppressing the spread of COVID-19 than simply banning all kinds of travel, especially during a time when people traditionally return home to their families and relatives. And this is not only limited to Chuseok — the same principle applies to other holidays with similar traditions, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Chinese New Year, and Eid al-Fitr. These holidays are not “just like other holidays”, where plans can be postponed until situations stabilize with little to no impacts. For some, it is a once-in-a-year chance to see their families before going back to their routines, and we never know how much we would be taking away from them by removing this opportunity. In countries or regions with ample safety measures, we should still be allowed to travel, as long as we follow the rules.