Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon Takes a Step Back on 'Seoul-style Social Distancing'

Seoul City Initiates Additional Feedback Collection
Actively Considering Rapid Antigen Test Kits

Government: "Central and Local Must Unite"

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is giving a briefing on the "Seoul-style Coexistence Quarantine Promotion Direction," which reflects the characteristics of multi-use facility industries, at the City Hall briefing room in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy reporters Seo So-jeong, Lim Cheol-young, Lee Chun-hee] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced on the 12th that he will establish a ‘Seoul-style social distancing manual’ containing customized quarantine rules by industry and business type. However, he stated that restrictions on entertainment bars will not be eased immediately, so it seems unlikely to cause conflicts with the government over ‘social distancing.’

At a press conference held at Seoul City Hall on the same day, Mayor Oh said, "We will prepare a manual at the Seoul city level by the end of this week and start consultations with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) next week regarding implementation methods and timing." He explained that instead of the previously known Seoul-style social distancing, he will pursue a win-win quarantine approach encouraging the use of diagnostic kits.

He urged the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) to promptly approve the use of self-diagnostic kits, and Seoul City is also actively considering a pilot project using rapid antigen test kits independently of MFDS approval. He expected that if the Seoul-style social distancing manual is implemented based on the use of self-diagnostic kits at business sites, it would create significant synergy effects such as allowing extended business hours reflecting the characteristics of each industry.

Previously, Seoul City was reported to be reviewing allowing entertainment bars, karaoke bars, emotional pubs, and hunting pubs to operate from 5 p.m. to midnight, holdem pubs and bars from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., and restaurants and cafes to operate until 10 p.m. as before. However, as opinions were not finalized and concerns from quarantine authorities arose, the specific details were reportedly withheld at the press conference.

Kang Do-tae, the 1st Senior Coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Vice Minister of Health and Welfare), is speaking while presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Sejong Complex on the morning of the 12th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The government expressed a cautious stance regarding Seoul City’s plan. Kang Do-tae, the first chief coordinator of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), said on the day, "For entertainment facilities, the gathering ban was lifted on the premise that they would voluntarily comply with quarantine rules, but many violations and cluster infections occurred," adding, "If the infection situation worsens by region, we plan to promptly adjust the social distancing levels." Kang also requested, "Local governments should follow established procedures such as consulting with the Central Accident Response Headquarters when adjusting levels and consider the impact on neighboring areas. It is important for the central and local governments to unite and focus on quarantine."

There have been cases where local governments independently eased quarantine rules but later withdrew them. Daegu and Gyeongju announced in January that they would extend business hours for entertainment facilities and restaurants from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., but reversed the decision amid controversy. At that time, Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, emphasized, "Both the central government and local governments have the same authority over social distancing levels, so local governments also have the authority to adjust the detailed contents of the levels. However, since issues such as fairness between other local governments or industries and the balloon effect may arise, prior consultation and decision-making are necessary."

As of midnight on the day, the number of new confirmed cases was 587. In particular, the key indicator for adjusting social distancing levels, the daily average of locally transmitted cases, reached 606.7, surpassing 600. This is the first time in 91 days since January 12 that the figure has exceeded 600. It has already surpassed the upper limit of the nationwide 2.5-level elevation criteria, which ranges from 400 to 500 nationwide.