Complete Ban on Sunset and Sunrise Events in National Parks... Up to 500,000 KRW Fine for Violations

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] To prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), sunset and sunrise events within national parks will be completely banned.

The Ministry of Environment announced on the 24th that, following the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' implementation of a two-week intensive quarantine reinforcement plan including Christmas and the year-end and New Year holidays, all sunset and sunrise events within national parks will be fully prohibited.

According to this quarantine reinforcement measure, sunset and sunrise events will be banned nationwide in national parks from December 31st to January 3rd of next year.

Until now, sunset and sunrise events within national parks have been held under the jurisdiction of local governments. In the past, to provide convenience for sunrise visitors, the mountain entry time was temporarily relaxed from 4 a.m. to 2 a.m., but during this period, entry into national parks is prohibited before 7 a.m.

Additionally, from December 31st to January 3rd, all national park parking lots will be closed for four days, and trails will be closed from 3 p.m. The closed parking lots and detailed trail opening hours can be checked on the Korea National Park Service website (http://www.knps.or.kr).

The Korea National Park Service has immediately requested cooperation from the relevant local governments to cancel events through regional offices. Violations of entry restrictions within national parks will result in fines of 100,000 KRW or more under the Natural Parks Act (first offense 100,000 KRW, second offense 300,000 KRW, third offense 500,000 KRW).

Park Yeon-jae, Director of Natural Conservation Policy at the Ministry of Environment, stated, "As the nationwide trend of COVID-19 spread and increase continues, we will strengthen quarantine measures in national parks and do our best to suppress the spread of infection."

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