'Grace Period' Ends... Difficult to Use Restaurants and Cafes Without Quarantine Pass

On the 10th, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, a notice regarding the implementation of the vaccine pass is posted at the Yonsei University Central Library in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The grace period for the newly introduced vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system (quarantine pass) at 11 types of multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes, which started on the 6th, will end on the 12th. From the 13th, penalties such as fines will be imposed for violations.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 12th, the grace period for the 11 types of multi-use facilities where the quarantine pass has been expanded will end on Sunday the 12th, and penalties will be applied from the 13th for violations.

These facilities include ▲restaurants and cafes ▲private academies ▲movie theaters and performance halls ▲reading rooms and study cafes ▲multi-rooms (excluding arcades) ▲PC rooms ▲indoor sports game (spectator) venues ▲museums, art galleries, and science centers ▲party rooms ▲libraries ▲massage and bodywork establishments. Adding these 11 types to the existing 5 types where the quarantine pass was applied?entertainment facilities (including pubs, karaoke bars, clubs, nightclubs, hunting pubs, emotional pubs, colatecs, dance halls), singing practice rooms, indoor sports facilities, bathhouses, and betting facilities such as bicycle racing, motorboat racing, horse racing, and casinos?makes a total of 16 types of facilities where the quarantine pass is mandatory.

To use facilities where the quarantine pass is applied, one must submit a vaccination certificate showing at least 14 days have passed since completion of vaccination or a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test result. Additionally, children and adolescents under 18, COVID-19 recovered individuals, and those unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons are exempt from the quarantine pass and can access the facilities. Previously, only vaccinated and recovered individuals could use entertainment facilities, and only vaccinated, recovered, or PCR-negative individuals could use betting facilities such as horse racing, bicycle racing, motorboat racing, and casinos. However, for the newly added 11 types of facilities, children and adolescents and those exempted from vaccination for medical reasons are also allowed access.

The government will limit the maximum number of private gatherings to 6 people in the metropolitan area and 8 people in non-metropolitan areas for four weeks starting from the 6th to control the rapidly spreading COVID-19 outbreak since the beginning of 'daily recovery.' Additionally, the scope of facilities subject to the vaccine pass will be expanded to include indoor multi-use facilities such as restaurants, cafes, academies, and PC rooms. On the 5th, a business owner posted a related notice at a Chinese restaurant in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

However, restaurants and cafes allow one unvaccinated person to use the facility freely. This is an exceptional measure recognizing the necessity, considering situations where people have no choice but to eat at restaurants and cafes. Whether dining alone ('honbap') or drinking coffee alone ('honkeo'), one unvaccinated person can use the facility without submitting a PCR negative certificate, as long as the total number of people in the private gathering does not exceed the limit. For example, if three vaccinated people and three unvaccinated people dine together at a restaurant, at least two of the three unvaccinated individuals must have a PCR negative certificate.

Facilities subject to the quarantine pass must, in principle, manage visitor logs using electronic entry logs and safe call systems. The sole use of handwritten logs is prohibited. However, the authorities will provide a grace period until the 19th for this. Handwritten logs are exceptionally allowed for some elderly and youth without mobile phones.

With the end of the grace period on the 12th, from the 13th, if violations are detected, users will be fined up to 100,000 KRW under the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act. Business owners will be fined up to 1.5 million KRW for the first violation and up to 3 million KRW for the second violation. Non-compliance with quarantine guidelines may result in business restrictions such as suspension orders for 10 days for the first violation, 20 days for the second, 3 months for the third, and closure orders for the fourth violation.

From the 20th, the validity period of the quarantine pass will also be set. It will be valid for six months after completion of vaccination, and the validity will be renewed upon receiving the third dose. If the third dose is not received, those who completed vaccination before June 19 will not be able to use quarantine pass facilities as of the 20th. The validity period for the quarantine pass renewed by the third dose has not yet been separately set.