Raising Social Distancing to Level 2... "Postponing Distribution of Six Types of Cultural Consumption Discount Coupons"

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism: "Considering the possibility of interregional infection spread and fairness of discount benefits, nationwide schedule adjustment"

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Yang-woo (right) and Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo (left) are attending an emergency meeting of related ministers responding to the metropolitan area group infection, held via video connection with the Sejong Government Complex at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 14th, listening to remarks by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on the 15th that it will adjust the implementation schedules of six types of cultural and leisure consumption discount coupons currently in effect or planned, following the elevation of social distancing measures to Level 2 in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

In a press release on the same day, the Ministry stated, "Even in regions outside Seoul and Gyeonggi, there is a possibility of infection spreading between regions, and considering the fairness of discount benefits across regions, we have decided to apply the adjustment of consumption discount coupon schedules uniformly nationwide."

First, for movies and museums, which began on the 14th, the discount coupons already distributed are to be used under strict quarantine measures, but the distribution of coupons scheduled thereafter will be temporarily suspended. For movies, the first batch of distributed coupons can be used until the deadline on the 17th, but the second batch, which was scheduled to be distributed from the 18th, will be temporarily suspended. For museum exhibition discount coupons, about 200 already distributed can be used, but issuance nationwide will be temporarily suspended starting from the 16th.

Discount coupons for art exhibitions, performances, and private indoor sports facilities, which have not yet started reservations or sales, will have their implementation schedules fully postponed. Originally, art exhibition discount coupons were scheduled to be issued from the 21st, and performance discount coupons from the 24th, but considering that 72% and 75% of their usage locations are in Seoul and Gyeonggi respectively, issuance will be temporarily suspended until the quarantine situation stabilizes. The issuance of private indoor sports facility discount coupons, scheduled from the 24th, will also be temporarily suspended considering restrictions on gatherings at high-risk facilities due to the elevated social distancing measures.

For accommodation and travel discount coupons, since the reservation periods (accommodation from the 14th, travel from the 25th) and actual usage periods (accommodation from September 1 to October 30, travel from September 1 to November 30) differ, reservations will proceed as planned, but the actual usage period may be postponed in consideration of future COVID-19 quarantine conditions.

The Ministry emphasized, "This measure, as well as future sector-specific discount coupons, will be thoroughly implemented based on strict quarantine measures," adding, "If the quarantine situation stabilizes and the programs resume, detailed guidance on distancing and other quarantine guidelines will be provided to participating businesses and discount coupon applicants, and sector-specific inspection teams will be formed to strengthen on-site management and inspections."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism had previously promoted the issuance of consumption discount coupons usable in six sectors?accommodation, travel, performances, exhibitions, movies, and sports?to revitalize the domestic market depressed by COVID-19 and to spread a safe leisure culture among the public. The coupons, prepared with 90.4 billion won from the third supplementary budget, will be provided to a total of 8.61 million people on a first-come, first-served basis after monitoring the COVID-19 situation.

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