I just moved to Korea and noticed a lot of people wear masks aroudn there nose and mouth??

They look like the masks that dentists or doctors wear. Why is that? I've seen little toddlers wearing them, too. Is there anything I should be concerned about??

They wear those masks when they have a cold to keep from spreading it.
Quite a good idea really.

Probably not. But..uh...I wouldn't inhale if you go outside.

When I arrived in Korea for the first time, I asked this same question. "Why didn't that doctor take off his mask?" This was at the airport.

It's because they're sick and don't want to spread germs. There are more sick people this time of year, but nothing to be concerned about. Just wash your hands frequently, especially after using public transportation.

Yamamoto, please don't put on an alias. If you want to ask a question don't be shy and just ask it. BTW Korean people put the mask on because japanese people continue to pollute the air around their neighbors.

I think this is used all over Asia, and I noticed it was really common in Taiwan when I was there for a while. The explanation I received was to protect from germs, and pollution. Some days, while riding my scooter, I was tempted to wear the mask, as the exhaust fumes can get pretty nasty when 50 scooters are jammed up next to you at every light! haha.

Cheers ~ M.

Before answering this question, I would want Max to know that you just made a mistake. You just insulted Ashley D. by assuming Ashley was me. Ashley started Yahoo A&Q much earlier than I did and, accordingly, Ashley has earned as much as twice the points of mine.

I think wearing the mouth cover serves two purposes. One is to prevent germs from spreading when sneezing or coughing. In addition, the mouth cover might act as a filter to block dusts and fumes in the air.

thats because they are sick and dont want it to spread around, and also, sometimes wear it as a mask to prevent breathing in the pollution in the air

Nothing to worry about. Korean people wear it in order to prevent their flu virus/germ from spreading to other people by sneezing or coughing and also stop themselves from inhaling other people's germs. They will wear masks during the cold & dry seasons or in March/April when yellow dusts fly into the country from deserts in China.

Don't worry, it is a Korean misconception that a piece of cotton gauze will stop you from spreading the virus. The tiny virus will easily move through the gauze.

Perhaps if Koreans learned to cover their mouths with their hands when they cough or sneeze then they wouldn't need this piece of gauze.