CHANGE IN CHUSEOK SCENES AMID THE PANDEMIC

[Anchor Lead]

The key to the government's special disease control guidelines during Chuseok lies in non-face-to-face contact, leaving many people wishing to meet their loved ones during the holiday quite disapointed. But there are businesses that are allowing families to hold online memorial services. Some local governments are also providing visitation services for elderly citizens living alone.

[Pkg]

About 1,500 senior citizens live alone in Hoengseong-gun County, Gangwon-do Province. As people are discouraged from gathering in groups over this holiday weekend, county government workers make calls to check up on them.

[Soundbite] "Aren't you disappointed that your family can't visit you during this Chuseok holiday?"

They still, however, long to see their families. Public workers personally go to help senior citizens who find it diffcult to make video calls.

[Soundbite] BAE I-SUN((95)HOENGSEONG-GUN COUNTY RESIDENT) : "Don't worry about me. Have a great holiday. (Don't worry about us.) You do the same."

This elderly resident promises to see her daughter after the pandemic is over.

[Soundbite] AHN BOK-SUN((85)HOENGSEONG-GUN COUNTY RESIDENT) : "You shouldn't come when you are told to stay put. (I will visit you once the COVID-19 situation gets better.)"

Kim Jeong-ran used to visit Iksan in Jeollabuk-do Province every year to visit her father's grave. But this year she makes an online visit. She shares with her siblings an online page posted with family pictures and heartfelt letters. Some facilities show the current state of the graves when requested in advance.

[Soundbite] KIM JEONG-RAN(SEOUL RESIDENT) : "Although it's only online, I still like the fact that my siblings and I can share my father's memories in the same place."

Some funeral facilities are staying open during the holiday for those who want to visit the graves in person. But they must strictly follow anti-virus guidelines. Visitors must make reservations to visit indoor enshrinement facilities which are likely to be crowded over the Chuseok holiday. They cannot eat food indoors and their visits are limited to just 30 minutes.

[Soundbite] LEE CHANG-WON(DIRECTOR, SUWON FUNERAL MEMORIAL CENTER) : "Only 1,800 people who made appointments are allowed to visit the tombs in a day. I ask people to not visit the memorial center during this Chuseok holiday weekend."

This is the first Chuseok holiday to be celebrated since the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Koreans who are staying home this year are hoping for a different Chuseok next year.