If You Fail to Wear a Mask on Buses or Subways, a Fine of 100,000 Won Will Be Imposed

From the 26th, wearing a mask will be mandatory when using buses, taxis, and railways. This measure aims to encourage mask-wearing amid concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) through public transportation. Although there are no penalties such as fines for passengers not wearing masks, drivers may refuse boarding before departure. The photo shows citizens using taxis at the Seoul Station platform on the 25th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Despite the enforcement of quarantine guidelines requiring masks to be worn when using public transportation such as buses or trains during infectious disease outbreaks, a fine of 100,000 KRW will be imposed if these rules are not followed. Currently, refusal of boarding was the only possible measure.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 26th that it has publicly notified the draft amendments to the Enforcement Decree and Rules of the "Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act," which include these measures, until early to mid next month. Following the recent revision of the Infectious Disease Control Act, set to take effect in October, fines will be imposed to enhance the effectiveness of frontline measures such as mask non-compliance.

Accordingly, if quarantine guidelines such as mask-wearing are not followed at facilities, places with infection transmission risks, or transportation means, operators or managers will be fined 1.5 million KRW for the first violation and 3 million KRW for the second. Users of facilities or places, as well as bus or train passengers who fail to comply, will be fined 100,000 KRW for both the first and second violations.

Unlike imprisonment or fines, administrative fines can be imposed without judicial procedures once a violation is confirmed. Additionally, to use hospital beds efficiently during infectious disease outbreaks, patients who refuse transfer orders may be fined between 500,000 and 1 million KRW.

For patients with mild symptoms, specific provisions regarding treatment at home or in designated facilities have been included in the enforcement decree. While isolation hospitalization is the principle for first-class infectious diseases such as COVID-19, this measure is taken when there is a shortage of beds due to a large number of patients. Detailed methods and procedures for isolation, treatment duration, regular condition checks, waste management, and disinfection for home or facility treatment have been established. Furthermore, provisions for transferring patients based on symptoms have been made to allow actions upon requests from medical institutions or local governments, along with the establishment of grounds for notification letters and provision of medical records.

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