[Q&A] Grandparents-Grandchildren Direct Family Are Exceptions to Private Gatherings... Taxis Allowed Up to 5 People

Seoul City Distributes Q&A on Administrative Order Banning Gatherings of Five or More People

On the 21st, as the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues in South Korea and quarantine measures equivalent to social distancing level 3 are being considered, a temporary closure notice is posted at a restaurant in downtown Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Seoul City has decided to allow everyday gatherings of family members indoors and outdoors despite the 'ban on private gatherings of five or more people' order effective from the 23rd. In the case of taxis, it will also allow five people including the driver to ride together.

Seoul City announced this in a Q&A booklet (FAQ) regarding the ban on gatherings of five or more people implemented across the entire metropolitan area on the same day.

The city also explained issues that had been unclear until now, such as exceptions for family relationships and unavoidable cases for essential business activities.

Below is the content of Seoul City's Q&A booklet.

- Family gatherings are allowed, but...

▲ Exceptions are recognized for immediate family members registered in the family relation registry. This includes parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, spouses, etc. Also, people living at the same address according to the resident registration are exempted. This is to allow normal family life indoors and outdoors. There is no age limit for the ban, so infants and toddlers are counted as one person. However, if even one person who is not an immediate family member and does not live together, such as collateral relatives, relatives, friends, or outsiders, is included, it is not allowed. Sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, uncles, aunts, etc. are not immediate family members.

- What about residents from other regions coming to the metropolitan area, or metropolitan residents going to non-metropolitan areas to participate in private gatherings of five or more?

▲ This administrative order banning gatherings applies to both residents and visitors of the entire metropolitan area. The health authorities allow gatherings of four or fewer people but request that even those be minimized as much as possible. Separately from the metropolitan local governments' measures, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters will implement special measures to strengthen quarantine from the 24th through the year-end and New Year period, including recommendations to ban private gatherings of five or more, a complete ban on restaurant reservations and entry for groups of five or more, and a ban on party room gatherings.

- Are work meetings or exams allowed?

▲ Working in company offices is not considered a private gathering, so it is allowed. Public administrative and government agencies' official duties and unavoidable essential business activities of companies are also exempt from the ban. However, even in these cases, rules under the social distancing level 2.5 measures, such as maintaining fewer than 50 people and wearing masks, must be followed. Exams are allowed on the condition that fewer than 50 people are maintained in each divided space.

- Is it okay to have five or more people gathering for moving or infant care?

▲ Infant care, education (tutoring), moving, etc. are not considered private gatherings, so they are allowed. However, level 2.5 guidelines still apply.

- Is it okay if four passengers ride in a five-seat taxi, including the driver, making five people in total?

▲ An exception is recognized for taxis. Since the metropolitan area is a single living zone with closely connected public transportation, Seoul City, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon City have agreed on this to prevent confusion among citizens. However, since taxis are very small enclosed spaces where people stay together for a long time, it is recommended to strictly follow quarantine rules such as wearing masks and maintaining distance when using taxis.

- What about academies?

▲ Academies are not considered private gatherings as they are not social gatherings for friendship formation. However, under level 2.5 measures, gatherings at academies and private institutes are banned, so offline classes at academies are not allowed. Only tutoring for the 2021 academic year university entrance exams is permitted.

- Are religious gatherings such as Christmas worship or mass allowed?

▲ They are not considered private gatherings, but under level 2.5 measures, regular worship, mass, and Buddhist ceremonies must be held online in principle. Meetings or meals hosted by or held inside religious facilities are completely banned, and Bible study meetings are also not allowed. Gatherings of up to 20 people for online broadcasting and content production of worship, mass, or ceremonies are allowed, but this includes all organizers, participants, and video production and transmission staff. This does not mean that face-to-face worship with up to 20 people is allowed.

- Are weddings or funerals allowed?

▲ They are not subject to the ban on five or more people. However, level 2.5 rules apply. Weddings must have fewer than 50 people, and funerals fewer than 30 people in Seoul.

- What about outdoor activities such as hiking, early morning soccer, or golf?

▲ Five or more people are not allowed. Even if five people go to a golf course and split into groups of two and three, arranging the initial meeting itself is considered a banned gathering.

- Is it allowed for five people to go to a restaurant but sit separately at tables of two and three?

▲ This violates the administrative order. Whether sitting separately or together, the gathering itself is five or more people.