Starting Today, a 100,000 Won Fine for Not Wearing Masks... Which 23 Facilities Are Mandatory?

Under 14 Exempted... "Fines Imposed for Non-Compliance with On-Site Guidance During Crackdowns"

On the morning of the 13th, the first day of imposing fines for not wearing masks, subway security officers are conducting inspections at Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Starting today, a fine of 100,000 KRW will be imposed for not wearing a mask in multi-use facilities, but some users are confused because they do not know exactly which facilities require mandatory mask-wearing.

Under the current 'Social Distancing' Level 1, the mask-wearing mandate applies to 23 types of facilities, including 9 types of high-risk management facilities and 14 types of general management facilities.

High-risk management facilities include restaurants and cafes, as well as five types of entertainment establishments such as clubs, room salons, danran pubs, emotional pubs, colatecs, and hunting pochas. Karaoke rooms, indoor standing performance venues, and direct sales promotion centers such as door-to-door sales are also included.

Earlier this month, the government restructured the risk assessment system for multi-use facilities into high-risk and general management facilities through the social distancing reform. High-risk management facilities are places where close and dense contact between people frequently occurs, mask-wearing is difficult, and where multiple cluster infections have occurred in the past.

The 14 types designated as general management facilities are also subject to the mask mandate. General management facilities are those with a history of cluster infections or where close and dense contact between people is likely to occur.

This includes stores, marts, department stores, wedding halls, funeral halls, academies (including private tutoring centers), vocational training institutions, bathhouses, performance venues, movie theaters, amusement parks, water parks, arcades, and multi-rooms. PC rooms, indoor sports facilities, beauty salons, reading rooms, and study cafes are also general management facilities.

Additionally, masks must be worn in frequently visited places such as public transportation, religious facilities, assembly and protest sites, medical institutions, pharmacies, and nursing facilities. Mask-wearing is also mandatory in call centers, which have been classified as high-risk workplaces due to mass infections, as well as distribution logistics centers, indoor sports stadiums, and gatherings or events with over 500 attendees.

Health Authorities: "Mask Mandate Aims to Protect Public Health Rather Than Punishment"

Violators will be fined up to 100,000 KRW regardless of the number of offenses. However, fines will not be imposed from the first violation.

Local government officials in charge will first guide violators on properly wearing masks on-site, and if they do not comply, explain the basis for enforcement and impose fines.

However, children under 14 years old are exempt from fines. Infants under 24 months, people with brain lesions or developmental disabilities who find it difficult to put on or take off masks without assistance, and those with medical opinions stating difficulty breathing when wearing masks due to respiratory diseases are also exempt from fines.

Facility managers and operators who fail to properly inform users about mask-wearing obligations and other quarantine guidelines will face fines of up to 1.5 million KRW for the first violation and up to 3 million KRW for subsequent violations.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters explained, "The mask mandate prioritizes protecting public health over punishment," and added, "Fines will be imposed if mask-wearing guidance is ignored during enforcement."

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