Hangang Park Restricted During Holiday Period... Temporary Operation of Some Public Sports and Cultural Facilities

Seoul City Extends COVID-19 Special Quarantine Period Until October 11 Including Chuseok Holiday
Museums, Art Galleries, and Some Indoor/Outdoor Cultural and Sports Facilities Partially Reopen
City and Affiliated Institution Workers Urged to Refrain from Visiting Hometowns... Prosecution for Gatherings on Gaecheonjeol and Hangeul Day

On the 25th, a banner emphasizing social distancing during the Chuseok holiday was installed on the exterior wall of the Seoul Library in Jung-gu, Seoul, reading "Neither more nor less, just stay at home." / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government will partially resume operations of outdoor public sports facilities and cultural facilities that had been closed, ahead of the Chuseok holiday from the 30th of this month to the 4th of next month, and the Hangul Day holiday from the 9th to the 11th of next month.

On the afternoon of the 27th, Seoul held an online briefing chaired by Kim Hak-jin, Acting Deputy Mayor for Administration, announcing special Chuseok quarantine measures including this plan.

The city designated the two-week period from 0:00 on the 28th to 24:00 on the 11th of next month as the "Chuseok Special Quarantine Period" and decided to continue the Level 2 social distancing measures. This holiday is seen as a turning point to determine the trend of autumn infections, with a firm commitment to thoroughly prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Accordingly, existing quarantine measures such as banning gatherings, meetings, and events of more than 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors, holding professional sports games without spectators, prohibiting gatherings at 11 types of high-risk facilities including entertainment bars and door-to-door sales, mandatory application of core quarantine rules at multi-use facilities, and banning face-to-face worship, small group meetings, and meal gatherings at churches will be extended until October 11 as announced by the government.

Partial Temporary Operation of Some Public Cultural Facilities Under Thorough Quarantine

The control of some crowded areas in Yeouido, Ttukseom, and Banpo Hangang Parks, which has been in effect since the 8th of this month, will be maintained through the Chuseok Special Quarantine Period. However, outdoor public sports facilities such as soccer fields and baseball fields in Hangang Park will be selectively operated starting with those facilities where flood damage restoration is completed after Chuseok. Citizens are urged to actively comply with quarantine guidelines such as wearing masks in the park, practicing social distancing, and refraining from drinking, eating, and delivery orders.

Additionally, social distancing at multi-use facilities such as restaurants, cafes, and movie theaters, which are used by many people during the holiday period, will be partially strengthened by limiting capacity to about half.

During the holiday period, medical systems for COVID-19 testing and treatment, including screening clinics, infectious disease specialized hospitals, and life treatment centers, will operate normally.

Inspections of multi-use facilities will continue, with special inspections conducted on facilities with high risk of increased users around Chuseok, such as traditional markets, department stores, marts, terminals, door-to-door sales facilities, and logistics centers, to maintain thorough quarantine.

Sixty-three public cultural facilities operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, including municipal art museums and the Seoul Library, will open temporarily. To this end, visitor numbers will be limited to about half of normal levels, and strict quarantine measures will be implemented for each facility, including visitor management through advance reservations, use of electronic entry logs, and mandatory mask-wearing.

Outdoor public sports facilities, including the Jamsil Auxiliary Stadium and World Cup Stadium futsal fields, totaling 880 facilities, will be operated from the 28th of this month to the 11th of next month after a preparation period.

Prosecution and Claims for Damages if Gatherings on National Foundation Day and Hangul Day are Forced

Meanwhile, the city plans to cooperate with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to thoroughly document on-site violations if some groups forcibly hold gatherings on October 3rd, National Foundation Day, and October 9th, Hangul Day. They will prosecute organizers and participants who violate the ban and also claim damages if confirmed cases occur.

Furthermore, the city is focusing on communication and publicity to encourage citizens to voluntarily participate in quarantine during Chuseok by promoting campaigns to reduce movement during the holiday and providing information for non-face-to-face celebrations.

About 80,000 employees and workers at affiliated public institutions are asked to refrain from traveling to their hometowns according to special duty guidelines for the Chuseok holiday.

Kim Hak-jin, Acting Deputy Mayor for Administration of Seoul, said, "While the city is making its best efforts in inspections and publicity during the special quarantine period, the success of quarantine ultimately depends on the voluntary cooperation of citizens. We ask that you refrain from unnecessary travel as much as possible, and if you must visit family or relatives or go out, please strictly follow social distancing principles and thoroughly manage personal hygiene to have a healthy and safe Chuseok holiday."