Gwangju City Expands Mandatory Mask Wearing to All Locations

Kim Jong-hyo, Deputy Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, is explaining the policy to expand the mandatory wearing of masks during an online briefing related to COVID-19 held at the city hall briefing room on the morning of the 21st. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City is expanding the mandatory mask-wearing policy to all locations.

On the 21st, Kim Jong-hyo, Deputy Mayor of Gwangju, announced in an online briefing related to COVID-19, "An administrative order will be issued mandating mask-wearing for residents and visitors in the Gwangju area, whether indoors or outdoors."

Deputy Mayor Kim said, "Since vaccines have not yet been developed, wearing masks is the best weapon to block infection," and added, "Please wear masks for the sake of your family and neighbors."

Gwangju City plans to impose fines of up to 3 million KRW or penalties of up to 100,000 KRW on those who do not comply, starting from October 13, after a guidance period until October 12, in accordance with Article 83, Paragraph 4 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.

On the same day, Gwangju City also issued an additional administrative order regarding the Gwanghwamun rally held on Liberation Day.

Deputy Mayor Kim emphasized, "The person who led participants from the Gwangju area to the August 15 Liberation Day Gwanghwamun rally (the senior pastor of 000 Church in Wolsan-dong, Nam-gu) is requested to provide the names, mobile phone numbers, and other information of the participants who boarded the bus and the church members belonging to the leader’s church by 2 p.m. today," adding, "If this administrative order is violated, criminal punishment may be imposed under Article 79 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, and all costs related to quarantine measures caused by the spread of infection due to the violation may be claimed."

Deputy Mayor Kim also said, "Please always wear masks in daily life, refrain from visiting 3密 (closed, crowded, and close-contact) spaces, and if going out is unavoidable, be sure to practice social distancing."

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