Seoul City Declares 'Emergency Pause for Ten Million Citizens' Until Year-End... Complete Ban on Gatherings of 10 or More (Comprehensive)

Stricter Measures Than Level 2 'Social Distancing'... Worship and Mass Shifted to Non-Face-to-Face
Intensive Disinfection of 10 Major Facilities Including Academies, PC Rooms, Karaoke, and Bathhouses

On the 23rd, one day before the Seoul metropolitan area’s social distancing level is raised to Level 2, commuters are moving busily at Sindorim Station in Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] In line with the 'Social Distancing' Level 2 measures in the Seoul metropolitan area, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has declared the period until the end of the year as the 'Emergency Pause Period for Ten Million Citizens.' This comes three months after the declaration of the 'Pause Week for Ten Million Citizens' at the end of August, when confirmed cases surged following the cluster infection originating from Sarang Jeil Church and downtown rallies.

Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, held a briefing on the morning of the 23rd, stating, "Before COVID-19 stops everything, we must strongly pause first," adding, "There is no room to retreat or hesitate anymore." He appealed, "Please actively participate in the emergency pause period, leaving only the minimum activities necessary for livelihood."

The city recommended restrictions on the number of people and bans on food consumption at karaoke rooms, PC rooms, and academies, which require special management ahead of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) just 10 days away. From one week before the CSAT, intensive disinfection and strict compliance checks will be conducted at all entrance exam academies and private institutes totaling 1,800 locations, as well as restaurants and cafes frequently visited by examinees. Employees with examinees in public institutions are to work from home in principle until the day of the exam.

On the exam day, to ensure that confirmed examinees can take the test without exception, 10 exam rooms will be set up at Seoul Medical Center and Namsan Youth Hostel, with medical personnel deployed. For examinees under self-quarantine, 22 separate test centers will operate, and those unable to travel by private vehicle will be supported with transportation to the exam sites via 119 ambulances or quarantine taxis.

Additionally, from midnight on the 24th, all gatherings of 10 or more people throughout Seoul will be completely banned. This is effectively equivalent to Level 3 social distancing measures. Accordingly, the general strike planned by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in front of the National Assembly on the 25th is expected to be scaled down or canceled. Seo warned, "Organizers and participants of gatherings violating this will be reported to the local police station and may face fines of up to 3 million won."

Under Level 2 distancing, attendance at religious facilities' regular worship services, Buddhist ceremonies, and masses is limited to 20% seating capacity, but Seoul is raising awareness further by strongly recommending a shift to non-face-to-face services. Call centers, considered high-risk workplaces, are instructed to reduce the number of workers by half through telecommuting. For nursing homes and daycare centers, which have many elderly residents and thus higher risk, visits, outings, overnight stays, and external instructor programs are prohibited, and proactive testing of approximately 40,000 workers and users will be conducted every two weeks.

The city will also reduce late-night citizen movement and year-end gatherings by shortening the operation hours of city buses and subways during this period. City buses will reduce service by 20% starting from the 24th, and subways will reduce service by 20% from 10 p.m. starting on the 27th after sufficient public notice. If the emergency situation continues, the city plans to discuss with the central government to shorten the subway's last train time from midnight to 11 p.m.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Seoul increased by 112 yesterday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 7,625. The daily confirmed cases in Seoul reached a record high of 156 on the 20th, then slightly decreased to 121 on the 21st and 112 on the 22nd, maintaining three-digit figures for five consecutive days.

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