"Seoul Where Lights Go Out at 9 PM" ... 'Special Measures' for Two Weeks Starting Today

Movie Theaters, Academies, and Large Marts to Close After 9 PM... Public Transportation Operates at 70% Capacity
Complete Suspension of Public Cultural and Sports Facilities... Increased Movement of Examinees Due to University-Specific Exams

On the 25th, the second day of raising social distancing to Level 2 in the metropolitan area, a banner announcing the "Emergency Pause Period for Ten Million Citizens" is hung on the outer wall of the Seoul Library in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has declared a "stop after 9 PM" measure to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Starting today and for the next two weeks, almost all daily life facilities such as movie theaters, academies, and large marts will close after 9 PM, effectively instituting a "curfew after 9 PM." While maintaining social distancing at level 2, Seoul explained that some measures correspond to levels 2.5 or 3 depending on the facility.

If Seoul’s spread is not contained, the entire country will be breached... Growing sense of crisis

The strengthened quarantine measures announced by Seoul on the 4th aim to minimize citizens' movement as much as possible and prevent the spread of COVID-19 through year-end and New Year gatherings. Restaurants, entertainment facilities, sports facilities, PC rooms, arcades, and study cafes must stop operations after 9 PM, allowing only takeout and delivery from restaurants and operation of small stores such as convenience stores.

Earlier, Seoul had designated the period from November 23 until the end of this year as the "Emergency Stop Period for Ten Million Citizens," raising social distancing to level 2 and implementing precise quarantine measures restricting restaurant and cafe operations after 9 PM.

However, the spread of COVID-19 worsened, with Seoul’s daily confirmed cases surging to 212 on November 25, and continuing to set new records with 292 cases on the 2nd and 295 cases on the 3rd of this month. On the 4th, by 2 PM, 167 new cases were confirmed, and by 6 PM, 195 additional cases were reported, marking the highest number recorded for the same time period.

The shortage of hospital beds is also severe. Of the 61 beds dedicated to severe patients in Seoul, 53 are currently in use, leaving only 8 beds available.

Moreover, following the College Scholastic Ability Test, university interviews and essay exams are underway, triggering a large-scale movement of examinees gathering in and dispersing from Seoul nationwide.

Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, explained, "If we fail to quickly contain the spread in Seoul, where people and logistics from across the country converge, there is a risk that the entire Republic of Korea could be breached. With this sense of crisis, we have decided to strengthen quarantine measures before a greater crisis hits."

On the 27th, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, a notice about the change in late-night train operation times during the Seoul Emergency Pause Period for Ten Million Citizens is posted at Gyeongbokgung Station on Seoul Subway Line 3. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Until daily new confirmed cases fall below 100

With this measure, all public cultural facilities, youth facilities, and public sports facilities in Seoul will be completely closed regardless of time. This includes cultural centers and children’s play facilities in marts and department stores, as well as indoor standing concert halls. Social welfare facilities will operate only some unavoidable services to maintain care.

City buses, which had reduced operation by 20% after 10 PM since social distancing level 2, will expand the reduction to 30% starting from 9 PM today. Subway service reductions will begin next Tuesday, the 8th. If the situation worsens, plans to move the last subway train one hour earlier will also be pursued. Public institutions will implement 50% remote work and staggered commuting hours.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has ordered all grades in middle and high schools in Seoul to switch to online classes until the 18th. However, for late general high schools, specialized high school entrance exams, and the second semester final exam period, attendance may be allowed by grade at the discretion of the school principal. Elementary schools will also decide on in-person classes individually.

Acting Mayor Seo said, "Considering the hardships of self-employed and small business owners, we have tried to devise quarantine measures within the scope of economic circulation, but now protecting citizens’ safety and lives is the top priority." He explained the unavoidable reasons for this decision. He also emphasized, "Seoul’s goal is to reduce the average daily confirmed cases to below 100 within two weeks," and urged, "Each citizen should voluntarily cancel or postpone various year-end and New Year gatherings and refrain from even minor meetings in daily life."