South Korean restaurants remain empty as coronavirus fears spread

South Korean consumers are opting to avoid crowded places, causing restaurant bookings to plunge by as much as half as fears grow of the spreading coronavirus.

“Lunar New Year, followed by graduation and enrollment ceremonies, should have been a chance to boost our sales,” said the owner of one Seoul Chinese restaurant. “This year, though, reservations have dropped by more than half.”

Group dinners, accounting for a significant portion of all sales at this time of the year, have dwindled, and schools are canceling graduation and enrollment ceremonies.

“It’s important that I don’t get infected, but it is also important not to take any chance of spreading the disease to other people. It doesn’t hurt to stay careful,” said a local office worker.

Some companies have chosen to axe group dinners.