[News in focus] Apps show mask inventory for nearby locations in real time

Some of these services are the work of independent developers turned Good Samaritans, while others come from internet portal and telecom businesses.

“It’s definitely been helpful,” said the pharmacist in charge of Eunjung Pharmacy in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

“We’ve had several young people come in and mention that they’d already checked online that we have stock,” she said. “It’s unfortunate that the more senior citizens do not know how to use these online services, though — they don’t understand even if we explain how.”

Webpages “00Mask,” “Mask Nearby,” “Goodoc” and “Mask Saja” were among the first to give information on real-time mask inventories in the vicinity of the inquirer. 

On each app, a GPS-enabled digital map shows all the state-designated mask sellers — pharmacies, post offices and Nonghyup Hanaro Mart stores — that are close to the person asking.

The pins on the maps are black, red, yellow or green depending on how many masks remain in stock. Black means sold out, red means fewer than 30 left, yellow means 30-100 and green means 100 or more.

As of Friday, there were 13 apps available on the Android-based Play Store and three on the iOS App Store to help people get their state-supplied masks.

The most widely used digital maps in Korea, Naver Map and KakaoMap, have added similar functions to go with the keyword “mask.”

KT CS, an address-book service affiliate of telecom company KT, also added a mask alert system to its 114 application.

One online commenter picked Naver Map as her favorite so far, because it provides a phone number the user can call to verify the information posted online.

Which brings up the point that the real-time information through these services may not always reflect the situation on the ground.

How does the system know how many masks remain in stock at each of these locations?

The Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service keeps note of the 250 masks rationed out on a daily basis to approved distributors. Each time a pharmacist or other seller types in a purchaser’s information, the HIRA picks up that information and relays it to the National Information Society Agency.

The NIA then repackages this data with the address for each outlet and relays the information to independent developers, portals and startups via Naver Cloud in an open API format.

By the time the NIA data reaches app and website developers, it may be five to 10 minutes out of date.

“It’s still better than nothing, because these apps show the time the masks become available on that day at each pharmacy,” said another pharmacist working for the Onnuri Lily Pharmacy, also in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. On the same street as that pharmacy were four others, which all began selling masks at different times of the day.

The NIA started giving out information to developers starting Tuesday for beta tests that will run through Sunday.

The Drug Ministry said from Monday to Friday, over 38 million masks were provided through the state-appointed outlets, up 10 million compared with the week before.

Those born in years ending in 1 or 6 can purchase masks on Mondays. On Tuesdays, mask sales are limited to those whose birth years end in 2 or 7. On Wednesdays, the final digits are 3 and 8; on Thursdays they are 4 and 9; and on Fridays they are 5 and 0. People who miss their chance to buy masks on the assigned day can try their luck Saturdays. Proof of identification is necessary to prevent double purchases.

Each person is rationed to two masks a week, but family members may represent children younger than 10 or senior citizens older than 80 upon showing proof of their relationship. To facilitate this process, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety urged the use of the Gov24 mobile application to obtain digital proof.

By Lim Jeong-yeo ([email protected])