Government Strengthens Quarantine Measures During 'Danpung Season'...Penalties for Dancing and Singing on Tourist Buses (Update)

October 17 to November 15: Intensive Disinfection During Autumn Foliage Season
Thorough Disinfection at National Parks... Guides to Check Compliance with Rules

Hikers visiting Seoraksan are enjoying their hike on a trail dyed red with autumn leaves. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] As the autumn foliage season arrives, health authorities have stepped up COVID-19 prevention measures. Charter buses for tourism purposes are required to implement electronic entry logs (QR codes), and acts such as dancing and singing inside buses may be punished according to relevant laws if detected.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced on the 14th the "Autumn Travel Quarantine Management Measures," designating the period from the peak foliage season on the 17th of this month until the 15th of next month as a focused quarantine management period.

This measure is a proactive response to concerns about the spread of COVID-19 due to increased outdoor activities such as autumn foliage outings.

Accordingly, the government plans to thoroughly manage quarantine at national parks, natural recreation forests, arboretums, temples, and other locations during the focused quarantine management period.

Tourist facilities expected to attract large crowds will ease density by installing entry restriction lines at major exploration points, and the use of parking lots by large buses will be discouraged.

Additionally, major recreation forests and arboretums will implement a reservation system in advance and adjust the appropriate number of users per facility for operation.

Yoon Tae-ho, Head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters' Quarantine General Division, is conducting a regular briefing on COVID-19 response at the Government Sejong Complex in Sejong City on the 7th of last month. Photo by Yonhap News

Yoon Taeho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters’ quarantine team, stated at a regular briefing that "in cooperation with local governments, quarantine personnel will be appropriately deployed to tourist sites where crowding is expected to guide compliance with quarantine rules."

Therefore, representatives or leaders of gatherings must act as quarantine managers by checking participants for fever or respiratory symptoms, managing participant lists comprehensively, and inspecting adherence to quarantine rules.

Furthermore, quarantine management during travel, including transportation and multi-use facilities, will be strengthened. Charter bus operators for tourism purposes must mandatorily manage passenger lists via QR codes during operation. Disinfection before and after vehicle operation must be conducted, and hand sanitizers and masks should be provided inside the vehicle.

Drivers are required to wear masks and verbally guide passengers to refrain from talking or eating, and confirm compliance with these quarantine rules.

In particular, the government plans to strictly punish, including business suspension under the Passenger Transport Act, any acts such as dancing and singing inside buses that pose a high risk of close contact and droplet spread.

Restaurants and cafes at rest areas with many visitors must install transparent table partitions and maintain visitor logs. The government will conduct intensive inspections of quarantine rule compliance from the 19th to the 23rd.

Meanwhile, the government has also prepared situational quarantine guidelines for mountain hiking and outdoor activities during the foliage season. According to these, group hikes are discouraged, and it is better to engage in activities with family units.

Outdoors, maintaining a distance of 2 meters (at least 1 meter) from others and refraining from shouting or singing is recommended.

Group meals at large restaurants or after-hike gatherings ("dwipuli") are also advised against.

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