Except When Playing in the Water, Masks Must Be Worn at the Beach

Busan Gijang-gun Issues Administrative Order for Ilgwang and Imrang Beaches
Fine of 3 Million Won for 'No Mask Wearing' and 'Nighttime Drinking and Eating'

Ilgwang Beach, Gijang-gun, Busan. COVID-19 prevention guidelines are applied during the vacation season.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Mask non-wearing and nighttime gatherings of two or more people for drinking and eating outside of opening hours will be completely banned at the beaches and coastal roads of Gijang-gun, Busan.

On the 16th, Gijang-gun announced that it would take such measures at Ilgwang and Imrang Beaches in the district to prevent COVID-19.

Ilgwang and Imrang Beaches were not included among the 21 large-scale beaches nationwide (with more than 300,000 visitors in 2019) subject to the assembly restriction administrative order designated by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

However, among the seven beaches in Busan, five (Haeundae, Songjeong, Gwangalli, Dadaepo, Songdo) except for the two beaches in Gijang-gun, as well as two beaches in Ulsan (Ilsan, Jinha), are under the assembly restriction administrative order.

Due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19 infections caused by a balloon effect drawing visitors to the Gijang-gun beaches located in between, Gijang-gun decided to implement administrative orders and crackdowns including assembly restrictions.

According to Article 49, Paragraph 1 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, Gijang-gun announced an assembly restriction administrative order prohibiting mask non-wearing and nighttime gatherings (two or more people) for drinking and eating outside of opening hours. After a one-week guidance period from the 18th to the 24th, joint crackdowns with the police will be conducted in earnest from July 25 to August 15, the peak season.

The crackdown hours for nighttime gatherings involving drinking and eating are from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day, while mask non-wearing is prohibited 24 hours a day. Violators of the order will be subject to prosecution (a fine of up to 3 million KRW) and, in case of confirmed cases, claims for damages will be filed. However, masks are not required while playing in the water.

A Gijang-gun official urged, “Beach visitors should thoroughly practice personal quarantine management such as wearing masks and actively strive to prevent the local spread of infectious diseases.”

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