"This Week, Prepare Seoul-style Social Distancing Manual and Consult with the Government"
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is giving a briefing on the "Seoul-style Coexistence Quarantine Promotion Direction," which reflects the characteristics of various 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 Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is pushing to establish a ‘Seoul-style social distancing manual’ that reflects business types and categories. Since his first day at work on the 8th, despite the trend of over 500 to 600 new COVID-19 cases daily, Mayor Oh has taken a stance against the central government, stating that “lockdown-style social distancing is no longer sustainable.”
On the 12th, Mayor Oh personally took part in the morning briefing, which had been handled by Seoul’s COVID-19 related departments such as the Citizen Health Bureau, to announce the ‘Seoul-style Coexistence Quarantine Promotion Direction.’ He stated that after establishing the ‘Seoul-style social distancing manual’ this week, he would begin consultations with the central government. This came just three days after he first chaired a comprehensive countermeasure meeting last week, where he ordered a review, citing difficulties in following the government’s social distancing methods exactly, though no specific direction was provided.
Mayor Oh said, “We intend to establish customized quarantine rules by business type and category that are acceptable on the ground and achieve more effective quarantine results, replacing existing quarantine rules.” He added, “While minimizing sales damage, we will drastically strengthen quarantine rules and introduce a ‘one-strike-out system’ for businesses that violate them, thereby further strengthening the responsibilities and obligations of business owners.”
Earlier, on the 10th, Seoul City sent emails to related industries such as the Korea Entertainment Food Industry Central Association and the Korea Danran Bar Industry Central Association to collect opinions on classification by type of entertainment facilities and restaurants, as well as customized quarantine rules. Mayor Oh said, “We will prepare a manual at the Seoul City level by this weekend and start consultations with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) next week regarding implementation methods and timing.” He added, “Even if a pilot implementation is conducted for specific industries before full implementation, we will consult with the CDSCH to avoid confusion on the ground.”
According to Seoul City, they are reportedly considering subdividing the government’s classification of entertainment facilities to differentiate operating hours. The main points include allowing entertainment pubs, danran bars, emotional pubs, and hunting pochas to operate from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m., hold’em pubs and bars from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., and restaurants and cafes to operate until 10 p.m. as before. Current government guidelines regulate six types of entertainment facilities with high density?entertainment pubs, danran bars, emotional pubs, hold’em pubs, colatecs, and hunting pochas?together under operating restrictions.
Additionally, Mayor Oh requested the central government to actively consider introducing self-diagnostic kits, claiming that countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany are actively utilizing them for quarantine. Seoul City also plans to actively consider pilot projects using rapid antigen test kits independently of government approval.
He said, “Seoul City urges the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for rapid approval of self-diagnostic kits,” adding, “Seoul City will also actively consider pilot projects using rapid antigen test kits independently of the Ministry’s approval.” He continued, “If the Seoul-style social distancing manual is implemented based on the use of self-diagnostic kits at business sites, it will create great synergy effects such as allowing extended operating hours reflecting the characteristics of each industry, and I am confident it will bring a completely new turning point to the quarantine system.”
Although Seoul City did not disclose specific directions, coincidentally on the same day, the government’s ban on entertainment facility operations in the metropolitan area and Busan raised concerns. As small-scale cluster infections continue nationwide, with 500 to 700 new confirmed cases daily, voices warning of the possibility of a ‘fourth wave’ are growing louder. The government extended the metropolitan area’s level 2 and non-metropolitan area’s level 1.5 social distancing measures for three weeks until the 2nd of next month, considering the impact on small business owners and self-employed individuals, but is still deliberating whether to strengthen social distancing.
Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said, “So far, Seoul City’s own plan has not been finalized or requested. I have heard Seoul City is currently discussing several options, and if they present them, we will have sufficient consultations.” He added, “Consultations between Seoul City and the central government are important, but the process of sharing and consulting with other local governments is also crucial. We will discuss reasonable quarantine measures while respecting autonomy in cooperation with local governments.”
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