Jeonnam Province Extends Social Distancing for 3 Weeks... Private Gatherings Allowed up to 8 People

Entertainment Facilities Remain Limited to 4 People

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province has extended the ‘Jeonnam-style social distancing’ for three weeks until the 4th of next month and decided to allow private gatherings of up to 8 people.

Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok held a briefing on the 13th and stated, “Jeonnam’s vaccination rate was the first in the nation to surpass 30%, and 76% of the second-quarter target group has completed vaccination, maintaining the highest level nationwide.”

Governor Kim said, “The capacity of religious facilities will also be expanded from the current 30% to 50%, and those who have completed vaccination can also eat at senior centers and religious facilities,” expressing gratitude by saying, “This is thanks to the active cooperation of the residents in quarantine.”

He continued, “Allowing private gatherings of up to 6 people over the past 6 weeks has revitalized residents’ economic activities and daily lives,” and added, “This measure to expand private gatherings to 8 people will reduce inconvenience for residents and serve as an opportunity to help small business owners and self-employed individuals.”

In fact, during the period when Jeonnam allowed private gatherings of up to 6 people, card sales increased by 2.9%, and sales at multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cultural facilities increased by 5.3%.

Also, 82% of self-employed people in the province responded that their sales increased, and 90% of residents positively evaluated the relaxation of private gatherings.

The province will strengthen quarantine measures to prevent risks arising from this relaxation of social distancing.

Since early May, entertainment venues such as nightclubs, karaoke bars, hunting pubs, colatecs, dance halls, holdem pubs, and singing practice rooms, where confirmed cases have been concentrated, will continue to restrict private gatherings to 4 people due to risk factors.

Infection-vulnerable facilities such as school dormitories and company cafeterias and shower rooms, where rapid infection spread is recently a concern, will have strengthened on-site inspections to check compliance with basic quarantine rules.

Multi-use facilities such as restaurants, cafes, bathhouses, beauty salons, and indoor gyms, where private gatherings are expanded to 8 people, will strengthen business quarantine measures such as immediate testing if suspected, managing visitor logs, and regular disinfection and ventilation, applying a zero-tolerance policy for violations.

Quarantine measures and on-site inspections for high-risk facilities at major tourist sites will also be strengthened to ensure residents can enjoy a healthy and safe summer vacation.

Governor Kim said, “Jeonnam will do its best to achieve ‘1.5 million residents, 81% vaccination by the third quarter’ so that it can be the first in the nation to remove masks and return to daily life,” and added, “We hope residents complete vaccination as soon as possible to enjoy benefits such as family gatherings, senior centers, and religious facility use.”

He also urged, “Active participation and cooperation from all residents are necessary for this social distancing relaxation measure to be successfully established,” and requested, “Please strictly follow basic quarantine rules such as wearing masks anytime and anywhere, refraining from visiting other regions, and avoiding contact with outsiders.”