hankyoreh

Diners enjoy meals at a restaurant in central Seoul’s Jung District on Monday, Nov. 1, the day that marked South Korea’s transition to a gradual return to normal life. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

South Korea’s gradual return to everyday life, known as “living with COVID-19,” has officially begun.

One restaurant I dropped by during the day on Monday was bustling with diners. There was a liveliness in the air, with a line of people waiting for tables stretching out the door.

Notices used in the days of social distancing caught my eye from their perch atop a fridge.

The restaurant’s owner, Park Mun-hwan, 62, said, “There were some hard times when COVID-19 hit us half a year after we opened the restaurant in 2019.”

He continued, “But [now] with ‘living with COVID-19,’ I’m looking forward to being able to start accommodating groups of dinner customers again.”

Diners enjoy meals at a restaurant in central Seoul’s Jung District on Monday, Nov. 1, the day that marked South Korea’s transition to a gradual return to normal life. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

A notice used during social distancing sits atop a refrigerator in the restaurant. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

Diners wait for tables to open up outside the restaurant. (Shin So-young/The Hankyoreh)

By Shin So-young, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]