Prime Minister Jeong's National Address: "Strong Recommendation to Suspend Operations of Religious and Entertainment Facilities for 15 Days" (Comprehensive)

"Failure to Comply with Industry-Specific Regulations Leads to 'Assembly Ban' Administrative Order"
"Non-Compliance with Administrative Orders Results in Facility Closure and Claims for Compensation"
"Citizens Urged to Refrain from Using Multi-Use Facilities... Please Cancel Appointments and Travel Plans"

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced on the 21st, "We strongly recommend that religious facilities, indoor sports facilities, and entertainment venues, which have a high risk of mass infection, suspend operations for the next fifteen days."

In a national address to strengthen social distancing measures, Prime Minister Chung said, "The government recognizes the next fifteen days as a critical period to gain the upper hand in the war against the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), and along with several stringent measures, we earnestly ask for your cooperation."

He emphasized, "If operation is unavoidable, facility operators must strictly comply with the guidelines specific to their industry. If these guidelines are not followed, we will directly issue administrative orders to prohibit gatherings and assemblies."

He continued, "If administrative orders are not obeyed, we will actively take all possible legal measures, including facility closures and claims for compensation."

Prime Minister Chung also urged, "We ask the public to refrain from using multi-use facilities for the next fifteen days. Except for essential needs such as purchasing daily necessities, please avoid going out as much as possible and postpone or cancel private group meetings, appointments, or travel."

Furthermore, he said, "If you have symptoms such as fever, sore throat, or cough, you should not go to work. Please activate telecommuting, and if you must go to work, strictly follow necessary guidelines such as maintaining distance."

He added, "We understand this will be difficult, but please understand that these are unavoidable measures to block community transmission and restore our daily lives."

In conclusion, Prime Minister Chung said, "Now is the time for extraordinary measures. No matter how strong a dam is built, it can collapse due to a small ant hole."

His address is interpreted as urging maximum social distancing during the remaining fifteen days, as the start of the new school term has been postponed to the 6th of next month due to the COVID-19 situation.

Prime Minister Chung held an emergency Cabinet members workshop that morning to discuss these measures.

In his opening remarks, he said, "The next fifteen days before the April school term is a critical period to significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread."

Meanwhile, this is the third time Prime Minister Chung has delivered such an address. On the 22nd of last month, when COVID-19 was spreading rapidly, he urged the avoidance of crowded events in his first address, and on the 8th, before implementing the '5-day mask purchase rotation system,' he delivered his second address.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.