Daegu City Maintains Administrative Order for 'Mandatory Mask Wearing'... Enforcement Deferred (Update)

Jin-Young Kwon, Mayor of Daegu / Photo by Daegu City

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] Daegu City has decided to maintain the administrative order mandating mask-wearing but will defer penalties.

The Daegu Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the 12th that while the administrative order requiring masks to be worn when using public transportation and public facilities will be maintained, penalties such as fines for violations will be postponed.

The city stated, "The penalty clause imposing a maximum fine of 3 million won for violating the mask-wearing mandate, which was scheduled to be enforced from the 13th, will effectively not be applied," but added, "Taxi drivers or facility operators encouraging passengers or visitors to wear masks may restrict boarding or facility use if they refuse, and this will not be considered refusal of service."

The city also announced that the public guidance and promotion period for the administrative order will be extended by two weeks to encourage voluntary participation from citizens.

This decision appears to reflect the outcome of discussions at the 4th Citizens' Countermeasure Committee to Overcome COVID-19 held that morning.

Participants in the meeting supported the mask-wearing mandate but felt that penalties such as fines were excessive. According to a survey of attendees, 86 people (59.7%) favored "maintaining the administrative order while extending the promotion and guidance period," 37 people (25.7%) supported "maintaining the administrative order," and 21 people (14.6%) preferred "withdrawing the administrative order."

Earlier, on the 5th, Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin sparked controversy by stating in a public address that the mask-wearing mandate would be enforced by administrative order and that legal sanctions would follow if not complied with.

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