Social Distancing Level 4 Extended for 2 Weeks in the Capital Area Starting Tomorrow... What Stays the Same and What Changes?

On the 23rd, citizens are waiting for the bus in the shade at a bus stop in downtown Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The current Level 4 "social distancing" measures applied in the Seoul metropolitan area will be extended for an additional two weeks until the 8th of next month, with some changes to certain measures. Outdoor team sports such as amateur baseball and early soccer, which had been allowed regardless of the distancing level, will be effectively banned. Meanwhile, the ban on gatherings of more than 50 people at weddings and funerals, which had caused significant dissatisfaction, will remain, but the scope of attendees will be expanded to include friends and coworkers in addition to relatives.

According to health authorities on the 25th, the current Level 4 social distancing measures in the metropolitan area, which were scheduled to end that day, will be extended for two weeks until the 8th of next month. The Incheon Ganghwa and Ongjin counties, where Level 2 is currently applied, will have Level 2 extended for two weeks without any separate adjustments.

The health authorities believe the spread has somewhat slowed but judge it is still too early to say it is declining. Lee Ki-il, the first controller of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated, "The epidemic in the metropolitan area is showing signs of stagnation as the spread rate has somewhat slowed," but added, "It is still difficult to assess that it has reversed into a declining trend." As opinions emerged within the Living Quarantine Committee that it is necessary to extend the distancing level under the current circumstances, Level 4 will be extended for two weeks.

In addition to the two-week extension, the health authorities decided to strengthen additional quarantine measures for high-risk facilities and events that had caused fairness controversies while implementing Level 4 distancing.

Under the new social distancing rules, for sports games requiring a minimum number of players such as baseball and soccer, private sports venues with quarantine managers are allowed to hold private gatherings up to 1.5 times the minimum number of players required for the game (27 for baseball, 33 for soccer, etc.). Even after 6 p.m., when gatherings of three or more people are prohibited, a soccer game gathering can have up to 33 people.

Considering that the purpose of Level 4 is to minimize gatherings, outings, and movement and reduce social contact, the health authorities judged that allowing such a large number of people to gather is undesirable. Accordingly, amateur baseball and early soccer games will be effectively banned for two weeks from the 26th until the 8th of next month. Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Accident Response Headquarters, explained, "(The exception to the private gathering limit) had been recognized, but going forward, due to private gathering restrictions, it is expected that it will be quite difficult for such team sports to hold games themselves."

A person identified as A, who operates an amateur baseball field, lamented, "We will have no choice but to close for two weeks. Although up to four people can gather, that number is insufficient for games, and even renting the field for practice does not seem financially viable."

Additionally, the operation of shower rooms, which had been allowed only at outdoor sports facilities such as golf courses, will be completely banned. Previously, shower room operation was prohibited only in indoor sports facilities except swimming pools, where shower use was unavoidable due to the nature of the sport. The health authorities explained, "Since the use patterns of shower rooms at outdoor sports facilities are not different from those at indoor sports facilities, we decided to ban shower room operation at outdoor sports facilities as well."

On the 23rd, citizens visiting a department store in downtown Seoul are enjoying shopping. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Furthermore, workshops and meetings, which were exceptions to private gathering restrictions as they were deemed essential for public and corporate management, will have events involving overnight stays banned for two weeks. Exhibitions and fairs must have all on-site staff undergo PCR testing, and only visitors who have made prior reservations will be allowed entry. Academic events other than international conferences regulated under the "International Conference Industry Act" will not be allowed to gather more than 50 people.

However, the regulation allowing up to 49 attendees at weddings and funerals, which was judged to cause significant inconvenience to daily life, will have its scope expanded. While maintaining the maximum attendance of 49 people, the restriction on attendees will be lifted to allow friends and coworkers in addition to relatives to attend.

Other measures, such as the complete ban on gatherings at entertainment facilities, colatecs, and dance halls in the metropolitan area, and the suspension of incentives such as exceptions to private gathering limits for those fully vaccinated against COVID-19, will also be maintained for an additional two weeks.

All these changed quarantine measures will be applied starting from the 26th, when the current social distancing level ends and the extended measures take effect.