Multi-use Facilities That Were Closed Reopen Except Entertainment Venues and Hold'em Pubs (Update)

Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Adjusts Quarantine Rules After the 18th
Cafe Store Operations Allowed · In-Person Church Services Permitted

On the 14th, in front of the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, representatives from gyms, Pilates studios, study cafes, screen golf, and coin karaoke announced the three major joint demands of self-employed business owners regarding the adjustment of the gathering ban industry. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Most multi-use facilities such as health clubs, academies, and karaoke rooms, which had been closed due to social distancing measures, will resume operations. Entertainment venues like clubs and hunting pubs, as well as holdem pubs, will remain closed. Cafes, which were only allowed takeout and delivery, can now operate in-store before 9 PM like restaurants. Churches will also permit some in-person worship services.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced the adjusted distancing measures on the 16th. The special year-end and New Year quarantine measures, which had been in place since last year, will end on the 17th, and existing measures have been revised considering the recent epidemic situation. First, the 2.5-level social distancing in the metropolitan area and level 2 in non-metropolitan areas will be extended for two weeks until midnight on the 31st of this month. The ban on private gatherings of five or more people will also continue for another two weeks.

Some measures, which had raised fairness issues mainly from various associations, have been modified. Cafes can allow in-store dining until 9 PM, provided they comply with quarantine rules like restaurants. Restaurants and cafes with a facility permit or reported area exceeding 50㎡ can use only half of their seating by spacing tables or seats one seat apart. If this is difficult, a 1-meter distance between tables or partitions must be installed. Masks must be worn when not eating, and violators will be fined 100,000 KRW.

Seating inside a cafe in Gwanak-gu, Seoul is prohibited.

Limited Operation Allowed for Indoor Sports Facilities, Academies, Karaoke Rooms, etc.
Based on Quarantine Rules: 1 Person per 8㎡, Masks, Before 9 PM

In the metropolitan area, except for entertainment facilities (clubs, entertainment pubs, colatecs, danran pubs, hunting pubs, emotional pubs) and holdem pubs, the ban on gatherings at other multi-use facilities will be lifted. Indoor sports facilities including gyms, academies, karaoke rooms, indoor standing performance halls, and direct sales promotion centers will open with restrictions. Most multi-use facilities had been subject to gathering bans until now.

The facility area principle is one person per 8㎡, with a warning issued for the first violation and a 10-day suspension of operations for the second violation. Basic quarantine rules such as wearing masks, stopping operations after 9 PM, prohibiting food consumption, managing visitor logs, ventilation, and disinfection must be followed.

Kwon Deok-cheol, First Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), is announcing the extension of social distancing measures and detailed adjustment plans at the Government Seoul Office Building on the morning of the 16th. <이미지:Yonhap News>

Facilities whose gathering bans have been lifted must post the allowed number of users at entrances. Direct sales promotion centers are limited to one person per 16㎡. Vigorous group exercise (GX) is not allowed in indoor sports facilities, and shower rooms cannot be used. Academies may allow singing and wind instrument lessons only one-on-one per classroom, and with partitions, up to four people can be in one space. Academy lodging facilities remain prohibited.

Karaoke rooms allow up to four people per room, but the room must be disinfected and left unused for 30 minutes after each use. Coin karaoke rooms follow the same quarantine rules as regular karaoke rooms, and if one person per 8㎡ is difficult, one person per room is allowed. Public sports facilities and libraries voluntarily closed by local governments can now operate at levels similar to private facilities. The government plans to evaluate the epidemic situation during the two weeks these measures apply and may adjust levels or add quarantine measures accordingly. Strict penalties will be enforced for facilities violating the guidelines.