Starting Tomorrow, 100,000 KRW Fine for Not Wearing Masks... Except in Bathhouses, Do Not Remove Them

23 Types of Facilities Including Pubs and PC Rooms
Operators and Managers to Receive 1.5 Million Won
Must Also Be Used in Swimming Pool Changing Rooms
No Transparent Dividers for Mart Employees

On the 8th, the second day of the new 'Social Distancing' Level 1 implementation, a mask-wearing notice is posted at a shopping mall in downtown Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Starting from the 13th, a fine of 100,000 KRW will be imposed on individuals who do not wear masks in multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes. Facility operators or managers will be fined 1.5 million KRW for the first violation and 3 million KRW from the second violation onward. This strict enforcement follows the end of the one-month grace period for mask mandates under the revised Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

The mask-wearing mandate applies to nine types of high-priority management facilities, including entertainment bars, and 14 types of general management facilities such as PC rooms. Masks must also be worn on public transportation, at rallies and demonstrations, in medical institutions and pharmacies, nursing facilities, and religious facilities. In bathhouses and indoor swimming pools, masks can be removed inside the baths or pools, but must be worn in spaces such as changing rooms.

In the case of the Lucky Sauna in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 46. Epidemiological investigations revealed that the main cause of infection was not inside the baths but from eating and talking without masks. Therefore, masks may be removed in the baths where temperature and humidity are high and wearing masks is difficult, but masks must be worn in all other areas such as changing rooms.

In restaurants and cafes, masks must be worn except when eating or drinking. Masks must not be removed while standing in line to order or pay, or while waiting for ordered food. Transparent plastic face shields worn by restaurant or supermarket staff are also not allowed.

The types of masks permitted are health masks approved as "quasi-drugs" by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, including KF94, KF80, droplet-blocking masks, and surgical masks. Mesh-type or valve-type masks, or covering the face with scarves, are not allowed because they do not provide adequate protection. Masks must fully cover the mouth and nose; wearing a mask on the chin is also prohibited. However, masks are not required in outdoor spaces such as parks where a distance of 2 meters or more can be maintained. Children under 14 years old or individuals who have difficulty breathing due to illness are exempt from enforcement.

On-site, people are busy familiarizing themselves with the mask mandate criteria ahead of full enforcement. However, some facility operators are voicing complaints. While agreeing on the necessity of wearing masks, they say practical application is difficult. Kim, who runs a cafe in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, said, "It is hard to clearly distinguish whether customers are drinking tea or talking, so I have to continuously walk around the store to monitor them."

Meanwhile, as the impact of COVID-19 cluster outbreaks continues nationwide, the number of new confirmed cases on this day was 143, marking five consecutive days of triple-digit cases. Among these, 128 were locally transmitted cases, the highest in 20 days since the 138 cases reported on the 23rd of last month. The average daily number of locally transmitted cases over the past week was 102.6, exceeding 100. Imported cases numbered 15, about half of the 33 cases reported the previous day.

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