[Report] "Are You Saying We Shouldn't Exercise?" Gyms Facing Surge in Refund Requests... Is the Vaccine Pass Really Okay?

Introduction of 'Vaccine Pass' from the 1st of next month
Submission of vaccination certificate and PCR negative test required for indoor sports facility entry
Approximately 5.17 million unvaccinated adults aged 18 and over who have not received even the first dose
Government to announce the final 'Phased Recovery Plan' on the 29th

Gym. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] "One mountain after another...", "I can only sigh."

According to the revised plan for the phased daily recovery (With Corona), a vaccine pass will be introduced starting next month on the 1st. According to the draft implementation plan for 'Phased Daily Recovery' released by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) on the 25th, the government plans to introduce a vaccine pass that allows entry to high-risk infection facilities upon submission of a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test result.

Accordingly, when using entertainment facilities, singing practice rooms, indoor sports facilities, bathhouses, horse racing and cycle racing venues, casinos, etc., one must submit a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test result. Indoor sports facilities include both Group 2 facilities such as gyms and table tennis halls, and Group 3 facilities such as screen golf courses, billiard halls, and bowling alleys.

Ahead of the vaccine pass introduction, workers and users of related institutions have been thrown into confusion. The CDSCH explained that the purpose of introducing the 'vaccine pass' is "to support the daily recovery of those who have completed vaccination and to protect the unvaccinated," but resistance on the ground has not easily subsided.

On the afternoon of the 28th, officials at indoor sports facilities in the Mapo-gu area of Seoul expressed confusion, saying, "We are receiving many refund inquiries from members," and "We don't know how they plan to check." Park (25, male), who works at a franchise gym, said, "They say it's With Corona, but if members who already had memberships before the vaccine pass introduction cannot use the facilities, it puts us in a difficult position," adding, "It's also difficult for us to check each person individually; there are many challenging aspects." This place even held a 10,000 won discount event for those who received their first vaccine dose.

For those who have not completed vaccination, the required negative test result is valid for 48 hours. Therefore, inconvenience for unvaccinated or partially vaccinated users intending to use the facilities is inevitable.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team on the same day, about 5.17 million adults aged 18 and over have not received even the first dose. As of midnight that day, 36,970,850 people had completed the second dose, accounting for 72% (83.7% of the adult population).

Health Fitness Treadmill [Image source=Yonhap News]

Twenty-something university students Lee and Park, who are receiving personal training at a gym together, also pointed out, "People who exercise often come every day, even if briefly, so telling unvaccinated people not to exercise is basically the same as forbidding them from exercising." Lee said, "I haven't completed vaccination because it's been less than two weeks since my second dose. For a while, I'll have to get tested before coming to the gym, and just thinking about it is inconvenient," shaking his head.

Lee (47, male), who runs a gym in Mapo-gu, said, "I feel sorry that things have become uncomfortable for everyone due to the vaccine pass," but also expressed concern that "members are in a more difficult position than us."

He explained, "They have to get tested every other day, and the worst part is that the rules keep changing day by day, so people lose confidence and accumulate dissatisfaction and distrust," adding, "We are also receiving many refund inquiries from members. They think very negatively because if they can't continue exercising, it feels like being told not to exercise at all." He continued, "Especially office workers who squeeze in time to exercise don't have time to get tested and then work out."

On the same day, office worker Jung (37), who stopped by a nearby gym during lunch while working from home, said, "It's been tough for three years, but I've continued working and exercising for my health," adding, "I'm vaccinated, but there are probably people who haven't been vaccinated and can't give up exercising."

While restrictions based on vaccination status are being strengthened with the introduction of the vaccine pass, quarantine measures applied to each facility will be minimized. In gyms, restrictions such as banning shower room use and limiting treadmill speed to 6 km/h or less during social distancing levels 3 and 4 will be lifted.

Song (63, female), who has been attending a gym for six months, welcomed the lifting of shower room restrictions, saying, "I hope it happens soon." She said, "I am fully vaccinated. It's annoying to be checked every time I enter," but added, "Still, I think there should be checks when unvaccinated people come in because we can't just let anyone in."

Ryu (31, male), an employee at an indoor sports facility in Mapo-gu, also said about the eased quarantine guidelines, "It will be good for those who exercise before work and shower afterward. It was strange that only the treadmill had restrictions among various equipment."

However, regarding the vaccine pass, he predicted, "Since we specialize in personal training (PT), we can check whether individuals have been vaccinated, but in gyms, there are many members, trainers are not always present, and members come at different times, so it will be difficult to check."

He added, "Members also say things like, 'How can we get tested every other day?' and 'How can public officials check all of this?'" and said, "I also wonder if this can be properly enforced."

There were also lukewarm reactions to the eased quarantine guidelines. Earlier, gym operator Lee said, "I don't think much will change. Even with restrictions like speed limits and shower room bans, those who wanted to keep exercising did so. I don't think those restrictions were important."

The government announced it will continue promoting the vaccine pass to ensure it settles in the field. On the 26th, Son Youngrae, head of the CDSCH Social Strategy Division, said at a regular briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, "Opinions have been continuously raised, especially by local governments, that time is needed for the new system to settle in the field," adding, "We are also discussing operating a guidance and promotion period for a certain time."

Meanwhile, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters plans to finalize and announce the 'Phased Daily Recovery Implementation Plan' on the 29th.