"Extended Business Hours Needed for Normalization" vs Health Authorities' Reluctance Due to "Administrative Burden"

Tomorrow's Final 'Social Distancing Adjustment Plan' Announcement
Ruling Party Strongly Urges Considering Self-Employed Difficulties
Health Authorities Warn "Extending Business Hours to Midnight May Weaken Infection Control"
Experts Divided, Deliberating Until the Last Moment

Focus on Expanding Incentives for Fully Vaccinated, Including Increased Access to Sports Viewing and Religious Facilities

The government held the first meeting of the COVID-19 Recovery Support Committee, officially adopting the term 'with COVID-19.' It is expected to soon implement phased measures to restore daily life while balancing quarantine and everyday activities. The photo shows a pedestrian wearing a mask, contrasting with the everyday scenes of citizens painted on the construction barriers at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on the 14th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] As the government prepares to adjust the final phase of ‘social distancing’ before the ‘gradual return to daily life (With Corona)’ on the 15th, the extension of business hours for restaurants and cafes has emerged as the biggest issue. The ruling party is strongly urging that the upcoming social distancing measures, effective from the 18th, should extend business hours primarily for vaccinated individuals, considering the difficulties faced by small business owners and self-employed workers. However, health authorities are reportedly hesitant, concerned about unnecessary administrative burdens.

On the 14th, Shin Hyun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "We held a meeting with the government and the With Corona Task Force (TF) and strongly recommended expanding private gathering limits and extending business hours at the party level, but the extension of business hours seems to be deprioritized," adding, "In this round of social distancing, private gatherings will likely be allowed up to a maximum of 8 people centered on vaccinated individuals, and business hour extensions will probably be applied gradually as part of the phased return to daily life."

Kim Seong-hwan, head of the TF Promotion Team, along with ruling party officials, argued that since the target of ‘70% full vaccination of the entire population’ is expected to be reached earlier than the end of this month, and by the end of October, 90% of those aged 60 and above and 80% of adults will have completed vaccination, a ‘vaccine pass’ system should be introduced allowing vaccinated individuals to use restaurants and cafes until midnight.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, as of midnight on the day, 407,096 people completed vaccination, bringing the total number of fully vaccinated individuals to 31,625,104, achieving a vaccination completion rate of 61.6%. On the other hand, health authorities are concerned that extending gatherings beyond 10 p.m. could lead to lax quarantine management and that unnecessary administrative efforts might be consumed to manage this.

Accordingly, the final social distancing adjustment is expected to mainly focus on expanding incentives centered on vaccinated individuals, as previously announced by the authorities. Representative Shin said, "Besides restaurants and cafes, allowing sports viewing and expanding the number of people allowed in religious facilities are likely measures," adding, "Assuming mask-wearing, the number of vaccinated participants in indoor cultural and sports facilities will be increased to avoid discrimination between facilities."

Experts’ opinions on extending business hours are also divided. Professor Jung Jae-hoon of Gachon University Medical School stated, "At this point, preparing for a gradual return to daily life, extending business hours is a matter worth considering." However, the number of new confirmed cases reached 1,940, nearing 2,000, and the spread in the metropolitan area has not subsided, leaving variables.

On the day, locally transmitted cases were 745 in Seoul, 684 in Gyeonggi, and 141 in Incheon, with the metropolitan area accounting for 1,570 cases (81.6%), once again exceeding 80%. Mobility is also on the rise, and with the autumn foliage season approaching, outings and travelers may increase, adding to the burden. Professor Lee Jae-gap of Hallym University Medical School said, "I understand that the extension of business hours has not yet been decided," and added, "A thorough review will be conducted today and tomorrow."