People walk on a path lined with blossoming cherry trees leading to N Seoul Tower on Saturday afternoon. (Ock Hyun-ju/The Korea Herald)



As spring has arrived and the daily new infections of COVID-19 hovered around 30 in recent days, life in South Korea appears to be cautiously returning to normal with signs of social distancing waning.



Over the weekend, mountains and parks were packed with families, friends and couples seeking to take in the fleeting spring blossoms -- with most of those venturing outside wearing masks.



Some churches resumed religious services over the Easter weekend and early voting was held through Saturday for Wednesday’s general election, drawing many people out of their homes.



“The weather is warm and flowers are in full bloom so I could not stay inside,” said Choo Kyo-woong, 62, who was walking on a trail leading to N Seoul Tower on Saturday afternoon with his wife.



Holding his mask in hand instead of wearing it, he said, “How can I keep the mask on if I wanted to smell the scent of the flowers?”



It is not yet a time to be relaxed and ease up on social distancing rules, many told The Korea Herald, but they said it gets harder to keep themselves inside as the fight against coronavirus becomes further protracted.



“I am worried about getting infected, but I could not help but come outside for a stroll because I felt too confined. I was here last weekend too, and I can see so many more people today,” said Lee Yoon-kyuong, 41, walking up to the tower with her 9-year-old daughter.



It has been four weeks since the government began its rigorous social distancing campaign by urging the public to stay indoors and tightening restrictions on religious gatherings as well as sports and entertainment facilities on March 21.



Due in large part to such practices, the country had managed to flatten the virus curve. Korea reported its lowest daily increase of COVID-19 infections on Friday dating to Feb. 20, reporting only 27 new cases. Thirty and 32 new cases were reported on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.



The government, however, is still on alert with a continued influx of infections coming from overseas, small-scale outbreaks at enclosed places such as bars and hospitals and cases whose transmission routes remain unclear.



On Saturday, the area near Hongik University, a popular nightlife spot in Seoul, was vibrant, though all nightclubs were closed upon the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s orders and quarantine procedures have been made stricter before entry into bars and karaoke rooms.





People hang out in the Hongdae nightlife district Saturday night. (Ock Hyun-ju/The Korea Herald)