Treadmill Speed Limited to 6km... "Does Walking Prevent COVID? Can't Help but Laugh"

A notice regarding COVID-19 prevention measures is posted at a gym located in Mapo-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] As social distancing in the Seoul metropolitan area is raised to level 4, controversy has arisen over the effectiveness of regulations concerning fitness centers and exercise facilities.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that under the level 4 social distancing policy, the tempo of music used for GX-type exercises such as group dance workouts, aerobics, and spinning will be limited to 100?120 bpm. Additionally, when using treadmills, the speed must be maintained at 6 km/h or below. The headquarters explained that these regulations aim to "prevent heavy breathing," intending to reduce droplet spread by discouraging high-intensity exercise.

However, opposition parties criticized the countermeasures as ineffective. On the 9th, Kim Ki-hyun, floor leader of the People Power Party, stated at the floor countermeasure meeting, "Is limiting treadmill speed to 6 km/h and restricting Zumba aerobics music to 120 bpm under level 3 social distancing really a quarantine measure?" He urged, "Stop blaming the public, self-congratulatory quarantine, and political quarantine, and comprehensively reassess the causes and countermeasures of the COVID-19 resurgence."

On the same day, Kim Yong-tae, senior member of the People Power Party, posted on his Facebook titled "Speed limits on treadmills and infringement on music choice?are you kidding?" He remarked, "Looking closely at the details of the government's level 4 social distancing measures made me laugh bitterly," and questioned, "Does the coronavirus not spread among citizens who walk slowly at 6 km/h or less?"

Former emergency committee member of the People Power Party, Kim Jae-seop, also wrote on his Facebook, "I am grateful that fitness centers are not closed, and emotional fitness centered on ballads is not bad," but criticized, "If the goal is quarantine, I cannot understand why only aerobic exercise is restricted." He added, "What affects breathing volume is not the speed of the music but the difficulty of the exercise based on posture," and "Such armchair theorizing undermines trust in the government's quarantine policies without any effectiveness."

Known for enjoying fitness regularly, former lawmaker Kim also posted another Facebook message that day, saying, "BTS's music 'Butter' is about 110 bpm. Take note," and added, "From Kim Jae-seop, director of the People's gym."