[Report] Cafes and Gyms Reopen for Solo Operation After 56 Days: "Welcome Back, Customers and Members"

First Day of New Quarantine Measures at Businesses
Resumed Operations Since November Last Year
Sales Hit Rock Bottom, Recovery Uncertain
Continued Backlash Against 9 PM Operating Restrictions

On the 18th, when COVID-19 quarantine measures for multi-use facilities such as cafes, gyms, and karaoke rooms were partially eased, office workers were drinking beverages at the Starbucks Korea Press Center branch in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporters Donghoon Jeong, Byungdon Yoo] "I just couldn't concentrate well at home, but since eating inside cafes is allowed starting today, I came out right away."

On the morning of the 18th, the first day of the new quarantine measures, Mr. Jae-hyung Lee, who visited a cafe near Dangsan-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, said this while attending an online lecture using his laptop. Mr. Seo said, "During peak hours when many people gather, I plan to adjust my schedule by going home to eat." Perhaps because it was Monday morning, the start of the week, most customers who visited cafes stopped by for takeout on their way to work. On the third floor, mainly frequented by study groups, there were people already seated and studying despite the early hour. Nearby cafes showed similar scenes. Those drinking coffee while seated numbered only two to three. A cafe employee explained, "There are many offices nearby, so customers mainly come during lunchtime," adding, "In the morning, only one or two people come sporadically."

◆Cafe Study Crowd Returns After 56 Days...Mixed Expectations and Concerns=From this day, cafes are allowed to serve customers inside the store until 9 p.m., just like restaurants, and the gathering ban applied to gyms and karaoke rooms in the metropolitan area has been lifted under the condition that the number of users is limited to one person per 8㎡ (about 2.4 pyeong) of facility area. Wearing masks is mandatory when not eating, and violators face fines of up to 100,000 KRW. When two or more people order only coffee, beverages, or light desserts, they are advised to stay in the store for no more than one hour.

Business owners met on this day welcomed the resumption of in-store operations after 56 days but did not expect a significant increase in sales, which had already hit rock bottom. Mr. Hyun-mo Seo (43), owner of a cafe located in Dohwa-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, said, "Customer activity has greatly decreased, so even if we receive customers inside the store, sales don't seem likely to rise significantly," adding, "As long as this terrible infectious disease does not subside, cafe owners will face difficult times." The nearby 24-hour cafe, known as Cafe A, was completely closed. This cafe, operating 24 hours and considered a 'holy place' for the 'Kagongjok' (those who study in cafes), has been opening only after 9 a.m. since halting in-store operations.

◆Gyms and Screen Golf Centers Welcome "Beloved Members"=Gyms reopening their businesses saw some customers from early morning. At a gym near Munjeong-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, about 2-3 people were steadily using the facility from the opening time of 6 a.m. Mr. Mo Jeon (34), who was sweating from early morning, said, "Since I work from home, I came to exercise for about an hour before work," adding, "I was frustrated not being able to exercise for a while, so I deliberately came early in the morning to work out hard when there are fewer people." At the same time, a gym near Dangsan Station, Yeongdeungpo-gu, also reopened at 6 a.m., but there were no users due to the commuting hour. An employee who came to work after a long time checked the operation of exercise equipment during the quiet period.

Along with gyms, screen golf centers, which have suffered from reverse discrimination compared to non-metropolitan areas, were busy welcoming customers. Due to metropolitan quarantine measures, screen golf centers had to close forcibly for over two months, causing customers to move to places like Gangwon and Chungcheong provinces. The owner of a screen golf center operating with 10 large rooms inside a large residential-commercial complex in Seoul said, "The monthly rent alone is 10 million KRW, but sales were zero for two months. Even if we operate 24 hours like before, it will take considerable time to recover the losses." Owners of screen golf centers and indoor golf practice ranges have threatened their survival due to the stop-and-go policies of business suspension and temporary operation, requesting the government to reopen businesses and even holding rallies and collective actions.

◆Continued Opposition to the 9 p.m. Restriction=There is still dissatisfaction with the restriction limiting operating hours of multi-use facilities to 9 p.m. until the end of this month. Smaller facilities must accept fewer customers or members to comply with quarantine guidelines. Some local governments such as Daegu and Gyeongju initially announced they would allow extended hours but later withdrew the decision. Some entertainment establishments in areas like Gwangju, where the business ban has not been lifted, have stated their intention to resume operations from today despite fines.