[Q&A] Lunar New Year Holiday Immediate Family Gatherings Limited to Under 5... Gym Shower Rooms Allowed

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The government has decided to extend the current 'social distancing' measures for another two weeks. This is due to the difficulty in accurately determining whether the recent increase in confirmed cases is a temporary phenomenon caused by a cluster infection originating from the IM Mission or if it has reversed into an increasing trend.

Accordingly, the 'Level 2.5 social distancing in the metropolitan area and Level 2 in non-metropolitan areas' will be maintained from midnight on the 1st of next month until midnight on the 14th, for two weeks. The government also decided to maintain the ban on private gatherings of five or more people during the Lunar New Year holiday (11th to 14th). However, quarantine measures for some multi-use facilities, which raised fairness issues, will be eased. The main points related to this measure are summarized below.

- What happens if families living in different residences gather during the Lunar New Year holiday?

▲ Even for immediate family members, gatherings of five or more people are not allowed if they live in different residences. Exceptions are made only for families sharing the same living space, who are not subject to the five-person limit. Therefore, if families living in different residences gather, only up to four people are allowed.

- Is it true that only up to four people can gather for family events such as New Year's bows (sebae), ancestral rites (charye), or memorial services (jesa)?

▲ Yes. For family gatherings or events such as jesa, if family members living in different residences gather, only up to four people are allowed in total. However, if family members sharing the same living space gather, gatherings of more than four people are permitted.

- What about highway tolls during the Lunar New Year holiday?

▲ To discourage interregional travel during the Lunar New Year holiday, highway tolls will be charged. The revenue from tolls will be used for COVID-19 quarantine activities, similar to the Chuseok holiday. Additionally, train tickets can only be booked for window seats, indoor dining at highway rest areas is prohibited, and only takeout sales are allowed.

- The winter sports facilities' operation suspension after 9 p.m. has been lifted. Can night skiing be done?

▲ Yes, it is allowed. However, measures such as limiting capacity to one-third and suspending shuttle bus services between ski resorts and other regions will remain in place.

- Can indoor sports facility shower rooms be used?

▲ Yes, they can. The ban on operating shower rooms in indoor sports facilities has been lifted, allowing their use. However, users must maintain one-seat spacing, and social distancing and mask-wearing must be observed in changing rooms as well.

- How will public performance venues and movie theaters change?

▲ Since no cluster infections have occurred in performance venues and movie theaters, and masks can be worn at all times, seat spacing rules will be relaxed from individual spacing to spacing by accompanying persons. For both Level 1.5 and Level 2, one seat will be left empty between non-accompanying persons, and for Level 2.5, two seats will be left empty between non-accompanying persons as part of adjusted quarantine rules.

- It was said that social distancing adjustments will be re-discussed in a week. Will stage adjustments also be considered?

▲ As social distancing has been prolonged, small business owners are complaining about difficulties in their livelihoods due to continued operational restrictions and gathering bans, and there are concerns about decreased public participation. The government plans to re-discuss adjustments to social distancing levels, gathering bans, and operational restrictions after one week while monitoring trends in case numbers and infection patterns.

- It was mentioned that the existing social distancing system will be restructured after the Lunar New Year holiday. What about that?

▲ Based on characteristics observed during the third wave, a full review will begin after the Lunar New Year holiday. While cluster infections in multi-use facilities are important, considering the characteristics observed so far, infections through personal contact are also significant. Therefore, it is necessary to emphasize quarantine rules related to personal activities, such as the ban on private gatherings of five or more people.

Currently, Korea's medical system has enhanced quarantine capabilities, so it is expected that social distancing level criteria can be somewhat expanded compared to now. Considering long-term sustainability, the government plans to review making quarantine rules more precise rather than imposing maximum gathering bans.