Spacing Seats Front and Back in Movie Theaters... Audience 'Confusion'

Cinema Implements 'Seat Distancing' Restricting Odd or Even Numbered Seat Reservations
Audience: "Priority Should Be Blocking Adjacent Seat Bookings"
Experts: "Current Seating System Ineffective... 1m Distance Must Be Maintained"

On the 29th of last month, a multiplex cinema in Yongsan-gu, Seoul implemented 'seat distancing' by restricting reservations for even-numbered rows. Photo by Kay Kim katekim221@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] "Shouldn't they prevent people from sitting side by side? It's absurd to only prohibit sitting in front and behind."

As the COVID-19 prevention system has shifted to social distancing in daily life, some movie theaters that had been closed have resumed operations. While theaters have implemented 'seat distancing' by restricting reservations for certain seats to prevent the spread of COVID-19, viewers are expressing confusion. This is because the system blocks either odd or even rows to allow spacing between front and back seats, but does not restrict adjacent seat reservations.

Experts advise that the current seating system has no preventive effect and needs improvement.

Due to the spread of COVID-19, the 'social distancing' that lasted 45 days from March 22 to May 5 was changed to 'distancing in daily life' starting June 6. Citizens are encouraged to develop the habit of reserving seats with one seat gap when using facilities like movie theaters or libraries, following personal prevention guidelines.

With the transition to daily life prevention, audiences who had refrained from using crowded facilities due to infection concerns are returning to theaters. The daily weekday movie audience dropped to around 10,000 last month, and weekend attendance generally recorded about 40,000.

The problem is that it is difficult to practice zigzag seating in theaters where audiences gather. Health authorities recommend leaving 1-2 seats empty when watching movies, but since the daily life prevention guidelines are only recommendations, they cannot be enforced.

Additionally, some theaters have implemented a 'smart seating system' that disables the use of unreserved seats, making it difficult for viewers to move seats arbitrarily.

On the 27th of last month, at a multiplex cinema in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. The 'seat distancing' policy, which restricts booking of even-numbered row seats, is being implemented.
Photo by Kay Kim katekim221@asiae.co.kr

As a result, viewers are raising their voices, saying the system should block adjacent seat reservations. They argue that seats should be opened in a zigzag pattern from the start of reservations.

A 29-year-old office worker A, who recently visited a multiplex theater in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, said, "At the time I went, there were many viewers, and except for the restricted seats, most seats were sold out. Of course, other viewers sat right next to me. I don't understand what 'seat distancing' means."

A added, "If we want to prevent COVID-19 transmission, shouldn't the seats next to us, where contact is likely, be left empty first? I doubt the effectiveness of the current method."

Experts emphasize that a distance of more than 1 meter between viewers is necessary for preventive effect.

Professor Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital, said, "The current movie theater seating system does not provide any distancing. Even if the front and back rows are empty, viewers end up sitting in close contact side by side for a long time, so such a seating system is ineffective."

He added, "According to government guidelines, maintaining a 1-meter distance in all directions?front, back, and sides?is necessary for prevention, so improvement is needed."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 6th, "Movements to restore daily life under thorough prevention have begun."

Prime Minister Chung said, "Although guidelines for distancing in daily life have been announced, they are useless if not followed in real life. I ask the public to make efforts to follow the guidelines in daily life so that distancing becomes a habit and culture."

Citizens should comply with prevention rules such as staying home for 3-4 days when sick, keeping a 'healthy distance' of two arm lengths between people, washing hands for 30 seconds, coughing into sleeves, ventilating at least twice daily, periodic disinfection, and keeping hearts close even if physically distant.

Health authorities also urge efforts to change existing habits, such as avoiding face-to-face seating in restaurants or cafes and sitting facing the same direction, since COVID-19 spreads through droplets and contact.

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