"A lot of Asian celebrities wear masks to hide their face from the public. In response, some South Koreans have turned to other ways of combining protection and fashion. Accessed November 26, 2020. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1103501/south-korea-mask-use-before-after-covid-19/, Hankook Research. South Korea, one of the first countries outside China to be affected by the virus, flattened the coronavirus curve in April, although it is now struggling with dozens of daily cases, mainly in and around the capital Seoul. The supposed "debate" over the effectiveness of masks, which did not reflect the largely settled science on the matter, also created space for conspiracies and disinformation, with covering one's face becoming an issue of freedom for some people. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. “Anti-aging products show the most stable sales.”. Hong Kong (CNN) South Korea is mandating the wearing of masks at all crowded facilities, on public transport and at demonstrations, even as the country eases up on coronavirus … As soon as this statistic is updated, you will immediately be notified via e-mail. But in Asia, there has been an underlying cultural narrative as to why people wear masks. Sometimes, the face mask can act as a social firewall, similar to wearing headphones. "I think following trends is a pretty big thing in South Korean culture. The US Surgeon General Jerome Adams even. But this phenomenon has long been a norm in Asia, where face masks are often worn regardless of whether the person is ill. "It's very common in Asia, especially amongst young people," said Pooh Chandanamattha, a Thai student studying at International Christian University in Tokyo. Comparison of face mask use before and after the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in South Korea as of February 2020 [Graph]. “We saw an increase in skincare product sales during the month of March compared to the previous month,” said Amorepacific Group, South Korea’s largest cosmetics powerhouse. Hankook Research. Corporate solution including all features. People wearing face masks cross a road in Seoul on September 11, 2020. You only have access to basic statistics. Police said … Some are sold in a variety of colors and designs, which can be a fashionable complement to an outfit. Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? 1. Hong Kong (CNN)South Korea is mandating the wearing of masks at all crowded facilities, on public transport and at demonstrations, even as the country eases up on coronavirus restrictions as the number of local infections shrinks. "There is a 'lookism' culture in South Korea, so students, especially female students, will use the mask to hide their face when they don't have any makeup on," said Bae. Elimstation reusable PM2.5 filter face mask features a high elastic ear strap that has enough elasticity to eliminate pressure to your ears. The latest daily count was slightly higher than Friday’s 191, taking the country’s total number of cases to 28,338 with 492 deaths, according to the KDCA. This feature is limited to our corporate solutions. A hydrating foundation, for example, makes it easier to touch up makeup after removing a mask, she said. Chinese brokers were reportedly flying into South Korea to stockpile made-in-Korea face masks in bulks of containers starting mid-January. What are symptoms of coronavirus -- and where has it spread? Fines for those found without a mask in public began being imposed on Friday, following a gradual rise of daily coronavirus cases, which have been in triple digits for the past seven days. In Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Japan and other Asian nations, mask wearing is uncontroversial, near universal, and has been proven effective, such that mandates by governments to wear face coverings, like Seoul's this week, are essentially meaningless gestures, ordering people to do what they've already been doing for months now.