Multi-use Facilities That Were Closed Reopen Except Entertainment Venues and Hold'em Pubs... 9 PM Curfew Remains (Comprehensive)

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

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Seo So-jeong and 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 pochas, as well as holdem pubs, will remain closed. Cafes, which were only allowed takeout and delivery, can now operate in-store before 9 p.m., similar to restaurants. Churches will also permit some in-person services.

On the 16th, Kwon Deok-cheol, the first head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCHQ), stated at a regular briefing, "The social distancing level will be extended for two more weeks: level 2.5 for the metropolitan area and level 2 for non-metropolitan areas," adding, "Although the third wave's spread has been curbed and shifted to a decline, the situation is not yet safe."

Kwon explained, "The average daily confirmed cases last week were 516, which is not a sufficient decrease and still below the level 2 criteria. The winter season, when the virus is more active, will last for another two months, and relaxing measures could lead to a resurgence."

Accordingly, the plan is to consider lowering the distancing level once the weekly average daily cases enter the 400 range, which meets the level 2 criteria, by assessing the risk.

Consider Lowering Social Distancing When Daily Cases Enter 400 Range

According to the distancing adjustment announced by CDSCHQ on the same day, level 2.5 for the metropolitan area and level 2 for 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 two more weeks. Events with 50 or more people are prohibited in the metropolitan area, and events with 100 or more people are banned in non-metropolitan areas, maintaining the existing quarantine rules for each level. To restrict parties and travel, party rooms remain closed, and accommodations such as hotels and resorts continue to limit reservations to two-thirds of available rooms.

Kwon said, "Currently, about 40% of infections in the third wave are due to personal contact, so it is necessary to continue reducing private gatherings and travel."

Some measures, which had raised fairness concerns among various organizations, have been revised. Cafes can now allow in-store dining until 9 p.m., provided they follow quarantine rules like restaurants. Restaurants and cafes with a facility permit or reported area exceeding 50㎡ can only use half of their seating by spacing tables or seats one seat apart. If this is difficult, tables must be spaced 1 meter apart or partitions installed. Masks must be worn when not eating, and violators face a fine of 100,000 KRW.

Indoor Sports Facilities, Academies, Karaoke Rooms Allowed to Operate... Conditions Include 1 Person per 8㎡, Masks, and Operation Before 9 p.m.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the metropolitan area, all multi-use facilities except entertainment venues (clubs, entertainment pubs, colatecs, danran pubs, hunting pochas, emotional pubs) and holdem pubs will have their gathering bans 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 previously been subject to gathering bans.

The principle is one person per 8㎡, with a warning issued for the first violation and a 10-day suspension for the second. Basic quarantine rules such as wearing masks, stopping operations after 9 p.m., prohibiting food consumption, managing visitor logs, ventilation, and disinfection must be followed. High-risk direct sales businesses are limited to one person per 16㎡. Social distancing of 2 meters, at minimum 1 meter, must be maintained between users.

Facilities that have had their gathering bans 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 prohibited in indoor sports facilities, and shower rooms cannot be used. Academies may allow singing and wind instrument lessons only one-on-one per classroom, with up to four people allowed if partitions are installed. Academy lodging facilities remain closed.

Karaoke rooms allow up to four people per room, with disinfection required after each use and a 30-minute interval before the next use. Coin karaoke rooms follow the same quarantine rules as regular karaoke rooms; 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 further measures. Strict penalties will be enforced for facilities violating guidelines.

Operation Stops After 9 p.m. Maintained... Concern Over Increased Secondary Activities and Infection Risk

The government will continue to enforce the operation stop after 9 p.m. for facilities such as restaurants. Kwon said, "Currently, under social distancing rules, 14 types of facilities in the metropolitan area and 6 types in non-metropolitan areas are restricted from operating after 9 p.m. There were opinions to partially ease this, but after 9 p.m. is when secondary activities after dining increase, and extending hours could weaken social risk awareness and increase meetings and movement."

He added, "The ban on gatherings of five or more and the operation stop after 9 p.m. have synergistically contributed to reducing cases. Considering this, we will maintain these measures and reassess the epidemic situation in two weeks for further discussion."

He continued, "For many industries excluded from this adjustment, we will stabilize the epidemic situation further and gradually ease quarantine measures. We ask for a little more patience and cooperation to help reduce the epidemic more quickly."