'Cafe and Restaurant Hours Extended to 11 PM' Gyeongju City Faces Backlash After Following Daegu City... "Let's Pretend It Never Happened"

Announcement of Relaxed Social Distancing at 3:30 PM on the 17th → Government Warns "Caution on Daegu City's Policy Without Prior Consultation"
→ Gyeongju City to "Readjust on the 18th and Announce Again" Around 6 PM

Kim Hojin, Deputy Mayor of Gyeongju City, is seen giving a public briefing on the relaxed Level 2 social distancing measures at around 3:30 PM on the 17th.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongwook Park] Gyeongju City, Gyeongbuk Province, on the 17th, unilaterally announced a relaxed Level 2 social distancing measure without prior consultation with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, only to abruptly cancel it 2 hours and 30 minutes later, causing a farce.

Following Daegu City's policy the previous day to extend business hours until 11 p.m. for some sectors such as cafes and restaurants, Gyeongju quietly nullified the entire announcement, drawing criticism from citizens for inconsistent administration.

Kim Hojin, Deputy Mayor of Gyeongju City, announced at a public briefing around 3:30 p.m. on the 17th that from 0:00 on the 18th until the 31st, the current Level 2 social distancing would be maintained, but a relaxed Level 2 would be applied to some facilities.

Cafes that were only allowed delivery and takeout, restaurants that were only permitted to operate until 9 p.m., as well as singing practice rooms, indoor standing concert halls, reading rooms, and study cafes were allowed to operate until 11 p.m.

However, around 6 p.m. on the same day, Gyeongju City announced it would readjust the Level 2 distancing measures and canceled all previously announced contents.

A city official stated, "We are planning to readjust according to opinions that the measures do not comply with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters guidelines," and added, "The readjusted details will be announced tomorrow (the 18th)."

This policy reversal by Gyeongju City came after the government's regular COVID-19 briefing in the afternoon, during which the Central Accident Response Headquarters announced that "many local governments nationwide raised issues regarding Daegu City's announcement without prior consultation," leading to speculation that some pressure was exerted by central government agencies.

Son Youngrae, Social Strategy Team Leader of the Central Accident Response Headquarters, pointed out at the regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters starting at 4 p.m. that "Due to Daegu City's prior announcement (extending cafe and restaurant business hours until 11 p.m.) without prior consultation, many local governments raised concerns about this matter."

He added, "Since both the central government and local governments have equal authority over social distancing levels, local governments also have the authority to adjust the detailed contents of the levels," and "Daegu City's measures cannot be seen as exceeding the authority under the current Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act."

Son said, "However, regarding such important matters, issues of fairness between industries or regions among local governments or controversies caused by balloon effects may arise," and "Tomorrow, we will hold a working-level meeting with each local government to give further attention to these issues and urge joint efforts."