Political Orientation and Policy Compliance: Evidence from COVID-19 Mobility Patterns in Korea

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

This study investigates the significant factor influencing widespread non-compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures in Seoul, Korea, through the analysis of spatial mobility data: the disparity between government communications and health policies, alongside the role of political orientation. The study reveals that political messages regarding quarantine success downplayed the severity of the virus, consequently hindering policy compliance during the major waves of COVID-19 in 2020–2021. Individuals with high institutional trust align their mobility behavior with the government’s messaging, increasing social activities. Additional channels come from the area’s occupation and industry characteristics, particularly in sectors with limited remote work availability.