'Two-Seat Spacing Even for Companions' Guideline
Musical Industry Appeals for "Reestablishment of Quarantine Rules"
Petitions Raised at Blue House and SNS Campaigns Launched
A notice asking to maintain a safe distance is posted on a seat in a performance hall. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] "Do acquaintances really have to sit two seats apart?"
Musical industry workers have called for adjustments to the COVID-19 quarantine guidelines. According to current COVID-19 prevention measures, audiences in performance venues must sit with 'two seats apart.' The industry argues that such measures are practically ineffective in venues where masks are not removed.
Criticism arises because these quarantine rules require even companions who came to watch the performance together to sit two seats apart. Many audience members attending together are close acquaintances such as family or couples who share daily life, and even if they sit two seats apart during the performance, they later live together or share meals.
Furthermore, since some quarantine measures have been eased, such as allowing cafe store usage from the 17th, there is a stance that these guidelines for mask-on performance venues need adjustment.
On the 19th, musical industry workers issued an appeal in the name of 'All Korean Musical Artists,' stating, "Despite actively cooperating with COVID-19 prevention guidelines, the prolonged 2.5-level social distancing has put us in a desperate situation where it is difficult to sustain our livelihood."
In the appeal, they said, "A tailored, pinpoint quarantine policy suitable for the performance industry and its characteristics is necessary," and urged, "The guideline of sitting one or two seats apart should be redefined as 'social distancing except for companions.'" They added, "Audience members who live together, eat together, and use the same transportation to come to the venue feel more strongly that sitting apart once inside the venue is ineffective," explaining, "In fact, the performance venue is under strict monitoring, with no contact or conversation with others, everyone wearing masks and facing forward."
They also emphasized, "The Korean performance industry has maintained a 0% COVID-19 transmission rate inside performance venues for the past year. This has become a basic standard for venue operation," highlighting that although confirmed cases have visited venues, there have been no cases of transmission within the venues.
According to the Korea Musical Producers Association, the production cost for a large-scale musical ranges from approximately 3 billion to 15 billion KRW, and a musical performance needs to sell 70% of its seats to break even. However, with the requirement to leave two seats apart between all audience members, even if all available seats are sold out, only about 30% of total seats are effectively used, resulting in significant losses.
According to the Korea Performing Arts Integrated System (KOPIS), compared to December 2019, total musical genre sales in December last year during the 2.5-level social distancing period decreased by more than 90%. They emphasized, "'Social distancing except for companions' is the minimum lifeline to continue performances and the most desperate plea for musicals to survive."
Relatedly, on the 18th, a petition titled "What is the basis for two-seat distancing in performance venues?" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. The petitioner stated, "Strict quarantine, mask-wearing, and prohibition of eating and drinking are thoroughly enforced in performance venues, and we do not even drink bottled water allowed by the government," asking, "Movie theaters that screen several times a day only require one seat apart, so do you think it is fair for performance venues that hold at most one or two shows a day to require two seats apart?"
The petitioner continued, "Performance venues do not require removing masks like cafes or restaurants, so why should they be subject to stricter regulations than cafes or restaurants?" and urged, "At least allow performance venues to operate with one seat apart." The petition had garnered over 9,300 supporters as of 3 PM on the 10th.
A hashtag campaign titled '#GongyeonMunhwaYesul_Mushijima' is underway on Twitter. Photo by Twitter capture
In this situation, many musicals that incur losses due to the 'two-seat distancing' have postponed their openings or resumptions, extended performance suspensions, and some have decided to close early.
According to EMK Musical Company, the suspension period for the musical "Monte Cristo (LG Arts Center)" has been extended until February 1. The suspension period for the musical "Gentleman's Guide: Love and Murder (Hongik University Daehangno Art Center Grand Theater)" has also been extended until the 31st, and ticket reservations for the musical "Phantom," scheduled for the 18th-19th, have been postponed.
As a result, a hashtag campaign '#DoNotIgnore_PerformanceCultureAndArts' has spread on social media such as Twitter. A Twitter user participating in the campaign said, "I have always thought it right to follow government guidelines, but this time I cannot shake the feeling that only the performance industry is being unfairly targeted," adding, "I am upset about the forced cancellations, but thinking about the many people who worked hard to prepare the performances makes this situation truly devastating." Another user expressed concern, saying, "For some, this is a matter of livelihood. If regulations continue without proper measures, the Korean performance industry will inevitably collapse."
Meanwhile, according to the social distancing adjustment plan announced by the government on the 16th, these measures targeting the performance industry are expected to remain in place until the 31st.
Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol said at a briefing, "I am sorry and saddened by the difficulties faced by operators and workers of multi-use facilities," and asked, "Please endure a little longer and cooperate so that the outbreak can be reduced more quickly."
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