Seoul City Strengthens Social Distancing... Musical 'Ghost' Performance Suspended and Kim Sunwook Recital Postponed

Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Following the Seoul Metropolitan Government's strengthened social distancing measures, performance planning companies are announcing suspensions and postponements of performances one after another.

Performance planning company Vincero announced on the 4th that the 'Sunwook Kim Piano Recital,' scheduled to be held at Lotte Concert Hall on the 8th, will be temporarily postponed.

Vincero explained that due to the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and the strengthened social distancing measures announced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government this afternoon, they urgently decided to postpone the event.

Performance production company Shinse Company also announced that the musical 'Ghost' will be suspended from the 5th to the 19th.

Shinse Company stated that the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced an upgrade in COVID-19 quarantine levels, and feeling the seriousness of the COVID-19 crisis, they decided to suspend the performances. The 'Ghost' performances are scheduled to resume from December 20.

Shinse Company added that tickets reserved for the canceled performances will be collectively canceled without fees, and tickets for performances from December 20 to 31 will be reopened at 4 p.m. on the 4th with seating arranged to maintain one seat apart.

Seoul Mayor Acting Mayor Seo Jeong-hyeop announced the 'Strengthened Social Distancing Measures' during an online emergency briefing this afternoon, stating that for two weeks until the 18th, enhanced quarantine measures beyond level 2 will be implemented.

During this period, general management facilities such as movie theaters, PC rooms, arcades, reading rooms, study cafes, amusement parks, beauty salons, marts, and department stores must close after 9 p.m. Nighttime public transportation operations will also be reduced by 30%, with the reduction starting one hour earlier at 9 p.m.

Acting Mayor Seo Jeong-hyeop explained, "The specific goal of this measure is to reduce the daily average number of confirmed cases in Seoul to below 100 within two weeks."