Indoor Sports Facilities to Open from the 18th... Screen Golf Limited to 4 People per Room (Update)

Capacity at gyms limited to 1 person per 8㎡
Intense group exercises like Zumba, Tae Bo, Spinning, and Aerobics remain banned from gathering

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Indoor sports facilities such as screen golf and gyms will reopen from the 18th under conditions allowing one person per 8㎡ of facility area.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters confirmed on the 16th a plan to adjust social distancing measures, changing guidelines to permit operation of indoor sports facilities, which were previously subject to closure orders, provided they comply with quarantine rules. The current special quarantine measures banning private gatherings of five or more people and enforcing social distancing level 2.5 in the metropolitan area and level 2 in non-metropolitan areas, scheduled to end on the 17th, will be extended for two more weeks until the 31st. However, the closure of indoor sports facilities including gyms, screen golf centers, and billiard halls will be partially lifted.

Specifically, operating hours for indoor sports facilities will be allowed only until 9 p.m., and the capacity must be limited to one person per 8㎡ of facility area. These facilities must post the allowable number of users at entrances and other visible locations.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster Management Headquarters, explained, "Applying the previous standard of one person per 4㎡ could lead to excessive crowding relative to actual usable space. We set the capacity at one person per 8㎡, which is double the previous standard, as an appropriate density management criterion." Due to the continued ban on private gatherings of five or more people, screen golf centers can open only with a maximum of four people per room.

Additionally, except for swimming, shower rooms inside indoor sports facilities cannot be used, and vigorous group exercise classes such as Zumba, Tae Bo, spinning, and aerobics will remain subject to closure orders. Public sports facilities will also resume operations at the same level as similar private facilities.

Furthermore, nationwide ski resorts, where restaurants, cafes, and other auxiliary facilities were previously subject to closure orders, will be allowed to open under conditions including suspension of operations after 9 p.m. and limiting capacity to one-third. Auxiliary facilities such as changing rooms and game rooms will restrict occupancy to one person per 8㎡ of facility area. Shuttle bus services between ski resorts and other regions will remain suspended.