[Q&A] "How many people can gather next month?"... New Social Distancing Measures Revised Plan Released

On the afternoon of the 18th, when private gatherings of up to 8 people became possible in Gwangju, public officials from Buk-gu Office in Gwangju gathered for a meal of 8 people for the first time in a while at a restaurant near Buk-gu Office. They toasted with drinks to revitalize the local commercial district, stepping out of the office cafeteria. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Starting next month, private gatherings will be allowed up to 6 people in the metropolitan area and with no limit on the number of people in non-metropolitan areas. In particular, from the 15th of next month, two weeks later, gatherings of up to 8 people will be permitted in the metropolitan area. Additionally, from next month, operating hours restrictions for entertainment facilities, singing practice rooms, restaurants, and cafes in the metropolitan area will be significantly relaxed to midnight. In non-metropolitan areas, operating hour restrictions are expected to be completely lifted.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 20th that a new social distancing stage reform plan containing these details will be implemented from the 1st of next month. This plan reflects the fact that the current five-stage system does not convey clear behavioral messages to citizens and the increasing number of COVID-19 vaccine recipients.

The details of the new social distancing measures are explained in a Q&A format.

Q. How is the new social distancing stage structured?

A. The current social distancing system consists of five stages, including stages 1, 2, 3, and an intermediate '0.5 stage.' Due to concerns that this structure causes confusion, the new social distancing stages to be applied from next month will be reduced to four stages, from 1 to 4. The criteria for raising or lowering the distancing stage are based on the daily average number of confirmed cases per 100,000 population. Stage 1 is less than 1 case, stage 2 is 1 or more, stage 3 is 2 or more, and stage 4 is 4 or more.

Q. How many people can gather starting next month?

A. It depends on the region. Based on the current number of confirmed cases, stage 2 will be applied in the metropolitan area, and stage 1 in non-metropolitan areas. Under stage 1 in non-metropolitan areas, private gatherings are allowed without any limit on the number of people as long as quarantine rules are followed. In the metropolitan area under stage 2, gatherings can increase by 4 people from the current limit, allowing up to 8 people.

However, due to the large scale of the current outbreak in the metropolitan area, a phased transition will be implemented for two weeks from the 1st to the 14th of next month, allowing private gatherings of up to 6 people only. During this period, except for the private gathering limit, all other revised measures such as easing quarantine rules for multi-use facilities will be applied immediately under the new plan.

On the 1st, a Chinese restaurant in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, displayed a notice stating that gatherings of '8 people + α' are allowed for direct family members of COVID-19 vaccine recipients.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Q. If COVID-19 resurges, will the private gathering limit be tightened?

A. Under stage 2, the limit is 8 people, but at stage 3, it will be reduced back to the current level of 4 people. Stage 4 is considered the 'pandemic/lockdown' stage, where only up to 2 people can meet after 6 p.m. Also, under stage 2, there is no limit on immediate family gatherings, and first birthday parties (doljanchi) can have up to 16 people, but these exceptions do not apply at stages 3 and 4.

Q. If gatherings of 6 to 8 people are allowed in the metropolitan area and there are no limits in non-metropolitan areas, can 10 metropolitan residents gather in another region?

A. The health authorities state that quarantine measures by local governments apply to the region, not the residents, so it is possible. Son Young-rae, head of the social strategy division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said, "There is some possibility of such balloon effects occurring," and added, "Even so, since the core of this system reform is to grant autonomy to local governments for quarantine management, we ask residents from other regions to also comply with quarantine rules."

Q. According to the new social distancing criteria, does this mean incentives for COVID-19 vaccination are removed?

A. Since not all gathering limits are removed, incentives still exist. For immediate family gatherings, stages 1 and 2 allow unlimited gatherings, but from stage 3, gatherings of 5 or more are not allowed. However, if grandparents have completed at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 2 weeks have passed, gatherings of up to 6 people are allowed.

Furthermore, those who have completed vaccination are exempt from all gathering limits. This exemption applies not only to private gatherings but also to various events, assemblies, and protests. The health authorities also plan to discuss additional incentives such as allowing standing concerts and permitting food consumption inside movie theaters.

Q. Will large-scale assemblies and protests be allowed?

A. At stage 1, unlike regional festivals and commemorative events where gatherings of 500 or more are allowed with prior notification, assemblies and protests are limited to 499 people due to the high risk of droplet transmission. At stages 2 and 3, the limits are the same as general events: 99 people at stage 2 and 49 people at stage 3. At stage 4, only solo protests are allowed.

On the 16th, workers belonging to the National Courier Union continued a 2-day, 1-night sit-in protest at Yeouido Park in Seoul, demanding the reinforcement of dedicated courier sorting personnel and the enactment of laws to prevent death from overwork. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Q. How will operating hours change for multi-use facilities such as restaurants, cafes, movie theaters, PC rooms, and study rooms?

A. At stage 1, all multi-use facilities can operate freely without any operating hour restrictions.

Even if elevated to stage 2, facilities with low droplet transmission risk such as movie theaters, PC rooms, study rooms, and indoor sports facilities have no operating hour restrictions. However, for facilities with higher droplet transmission risk such as restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues, holdem pubs and game rooms, colatecs and dance halls, and singing practice rooms, operating hours are restricted until midnight. Takeout and delivery services for restaurants and cafes are allowed after midnight.

The strictest measure, a ban on gatherings, applies only at stage 4, the 'pandemic' stage, and only to high-risk venues such as clubs, nightclubs, hunting pubs, and emotional pubs.

Q. How are operating restrictions applied to indoor sports facilities?

There are no operating hour restrictions for indoor sports facilities at stages 1 and 2. However, from stage 3, swimming pools can operate only until 10 p.m., and from stage 4, all indoor sports facilities must close by 10 p.m.

Additionally, at stages 3 and 4, fitness facilities must keep treadmill speeds below 6 km/h, and group exercise (GX) classes must maintain music tempo between 100 and 120 bpm. Contact sports such as sparring, matches, and competitions are prohibited. Shower facilities are also closed.

Q. What are the quarantine rules for religious facilities according to social distancing stages?

A. Under the new distancing stages, in-person religious events are allowed up to 50% capacity at stage 1, 30% at stage 2, and 20% at stage 3. For the metropolitan area, where stage 2 applies, the allowed attendance increases by 10 percentage points from 20% to 30%.

At stage 4, only non-face-to-face religious activities are permitted. However, activities with high droplet transmission risk such as choirs, praise teams, and loud prayers are prohibited at all stages. According to vaccination incentives, those who have received at least one vaccine dose are exempt from capacity limits during in-person religious activities, and choirs and small groups composed only of fully vaccinated members may operate.

Since April 1st, in-person visits have been allowed if either the resident or the visitor at nursing hospitals or facilities has completed the COVID-19 vaccination (2 weeks after the second dose). On the morning of that day, at Kyunghee Rehabilitation Nursing Hospital in Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, wife Lee (89) and resident husband Kim (88) are having an in-person visit. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Q. Are contact visits allowed at nursing hospitals and facilities?

A. Non-contact visits are the default and are allowed at all stages. Contact visits are allowed only at stages 1 to 3 if either the visitor or the resident has completed vaccination at least 14 days prior. Contact visits are completely prohibited at stage 4.

Q. Is there concern that easing quarantine measures significantly will lead to poor compliance with rules?

A. Since quarantine levels are relaxed for both individuals and multi-use facilities, penalties to enhance responsibility will be strengthened. Individuals who violate quarantine rules and become infected will be excluded from government living support funds, and claims for damages will be actively pursued.

For multi-use facilities, in addition to fines, orders to suspend gatherings for two weeks may be issued. If a cluster infection occurs due to quarantine violations, the facility will be excluded from compensation and support such as loss compensation and disaster relief funds.

Moreover, since the easing of quarantine rules for multi-use facilities was made in consultation with industry associations and groups, if violations occur widely among businesses in a region, comprehensive measures such as operating hour restrictions or bans on gatherings for the entire industry in that area may be implemented.