[Exclusive] From Tomorrow, Jump Rope and Kickboxing Classes Also Allowed for Groups of 9 or Fewer

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] "It's allowed to teach jump rope at a Taekwondo gym, but a jump rope specialty academy cannot open...".

The government has decided to allow lessons with up to 9 children or students at all indoor sports facilities in the Seoul metropolitan area starting as early as the 8th, in order to resolve the contradictions in the exemption measures from gathering bans that have sparked fairness controversies. A government official said on the 7th, "We are currently reviewing a plan to apply the quarantine guidelines, which allow lessons with up to 9 people at the same time only for sports training centers such as Taekwondo, wrestling, and boxing, to all indoor sports facilities," adding, "To quickly resolve the issues raised by the related industries, we are discussing with relevant ministries to implement this immediately from tomorrow (the 8th)."

Additional Allowances for Jump Rope, Martial Arts Academies, Indoor Soccer, etc.

If this regulation is applied, indoor sports facilities such as jump rope, kickboxing, special martial arts, indoor soccer, and basketball will be able to open additionally. The number of students receiving lessons at the same time must not exceed 9, targeting children and students up to the third year of high school. Previously, the government extended social distancing measures at level 2.5 in the metropolitan area and level 2 in non-metropolitan areas from the 4th to the 17th of this month, maintaining the gathering ban on indoor sports facilities in the metropolitan area. However, under the pretext of addressing the care gap for children during winter vacation, exceptions were made allowing places classified as sports training centers under the Enforcement Rules of the Act on Installation and Use of Sports Facilities (Sports Facilities Act) to operate as long as the number of children or students receiving lessons at the same time did not exceed 9.

According to the Sports Facilities Act, the sports categories classified as sports training centers include boxing, wrestling, Taekwondo, judo, kendo, wushu, and hapkido, totaling seven. Similar sports such as kickboxing or special martial arts were excluded from this classification and thus could not conduct lessons. Because of this, some Taekwondo academies conducted jump rope training for their students, while jump rope specialty academies were completely unable to operate. There were also ambiguous cases where boxing gyms could hold lessons with up to 9 people, but kickboxing was not allowed.

As a result, owners of indoor sports facilities not classified as sports training centers strongly protested. An indoor sports facility owner in Seoul questioned, "The principle of quarantine imposes gathering bans on all facilities, but only those registered as sports training centers are exceptionally allowed to operate?what kind of standard is that?" In response to such controversies, the relevant ministries decided to revise the guidelines.

Image source=Yonhap News

Gyms, Screen Golf, and Others to Be Allowed Later

During the inter-ministerial discussions held the previous day, it was reported that there was consensus to lift the gathering ban on other indoor sports facilities such as gyms, screen golf, and billiard halls after the social distancing extension ends on the 17th. This also includes facilities like karaoke rooms and indoor performance venues.

A government official said, "As the strengthened social distancing measures have been prolonged, many industry voices have expressed livelihood difficulties," adding, "Under the condition of strict compliance with quarantine rules, related ministries have decided to create detailed guidelines to allow these facilities to resume operations." For example, controlling the number of people allowed to enter at the same time to maintain a 2-meter distance and strengthening sanctions if quarantine measures are violated.

Immediately, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the main ministry responsible for indoor sports facilities, will meet with industry representatives chaired by the 2nd Vice Minister to seek solutions. Previously, gym owners nationwide protested, raising issues with the government's quarantine standards, and other facilities such as screen golf have also demanded measures, citing significant damage caused by unilateral gathering bans.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting that day, "As the endless frustration continues, fairness controversies over quarantine standards have emerged, and collective opposition movements by some industries have appeared," adding, "We will promptly supplement quarantine standards that are unfair or lack acceptance on the ground."