Government to Announce Social Distancing Adjustment on the 6th... Also Discussing Reform Plans (Update)

"Review of Reform Plan Based on Participation and Autonomy Rather Than Coercion"

A citizen who completed a test at the temporary COVID-19 screening site set up at Seoul Plaza on the 3rd is submitting a specimen. The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced that as of midnight on the same day, the number of new domestic COVID-19 cases increased by 467, bringing the total to 79,311. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The government will decide and announce on the 6th whether to adjust the social distancing levels.

Previously, the government decided on the 31st of last month to maintain the current social distancing levels?Level 2.5 in the metropolitan area and Level 2 in non-metropolitan areas?until midnight on the 14th of this month for two weeks. This decision was made due to the difficulty in accurately determining whether the recent increase in confirmed cases is a temporary phenomenon and concerns about infection spread during the Lunar New Year holiday. However, considering the decline in public participation due to prolonged distancing and the difficulties faced by self-employed and small business owners caused by ongoing operational restrictions and gathering bans, the government decided to re-discuss adjusting the distancing levels after observing the trends in case occurrences and infection patterns for one week this week.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said at the COVID-19 response regular briefing on the 5th, "The current situation involves many risk factors and considerations, so the government is carefully deliberating and discussing." He added, "At tomorrow’s (6th) Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting, these issues will be thoroughly discussed with related ministries and local governments, and a decision will be made and announced."

Additionally, the government is preparing a plan to reform social distancing to minimize side effects. The reform plan will be reviewed in a direction that enhances responsibility based on participation, cooperation, and autonomy rather than uniform mandatory measures.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters’ quarantine general division, stated, "The government aims to prepare a social distancing reform plan that strengthens quarantine measures while minimizing side effects, based on the characteristics of the third wave and over a year of experience." He added, "To this end, we are thoroughly collecting opinions through the first public debate, the second public debate, expert discussions, and consultations with industry groups and associations."

Yoon said, "If the public continues to participate and cooperate through this weekend and the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday next week, I believe the current situation can be stabilized further." He urged, "Until we devise a wise solution to the dilemma between quarantine and daily life recovery, please continue to strictly follow the current quarantine guidelines as you have done well so far."