"Opening Despite Fines" Gym Launches 'Open Protest' Amid Social Distancing Fairness Controversy

Controversy Over Fairness of Indoor Sports Facilities... Authorities Say "Improvements Needed"
"Limited Operation of Indoor Sports Facilities Necessary" 청 청원 Gains Over 190,000 Supporters
Experts Say "Public Fatigue Increases as Social Distancing Period Lengthens"

On the 4th, exercise equipment at a gym operated by Oh Seong-yeong, president of the National Health Club Directors Association in Oseongyeong, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, is waiting for members.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "Taekwondo dojangs are allowed, so why not fitness centers?"

As the government extended the ban on gatherings at indoor sports facilities such as fitness centers and Pilates studios for two more weeks, business owners are expressing frustration and outrage. They argue that it is unfair to continue banning fitness center operations while allowing small-scale sports facilities like Taekwondo and ballet to operate with restrictions.

In particular, some fitness center owners are engaging in so-called "open protests" by defying the ban and reopening their businesses in protest against the government's quarantine measures. Experts pointed out that the prolonged social distancing extensions have pushed the public's fatigue to the limit.

According to health authorities, under the social distancing level 2.5 applied in the metropolitan area from midnight the previous day until midnight on the 17th, operations of academies, private institutes, and outdoor winter sports facilities such as ski resorts, ice rinks, and sledding hills will be partially resumed.

Academies and private institutes can operate if they maintain the number of people inside the facility at 9 or fewer at the same time. Especially, small-scale sports facilities such as Taekwondo, yoga, and ballet academies can open with restrictions if they are registered as academies.

Outdoor winter sports facilities like ski resorts and sledding hills are also allowed to operate but must close from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day, and their capacity is limited to one-third.

On the other hand, fitness centers, swimming pools, Pilates centers, and similar indoor sports facilities must remain closed for two more weeks. The ban on gatherings remains in place because indoor sports facilities and outdoor screen golf courses are considered relatively high-risk for COVID-19 transmission.

As a result, fitness center owners affected by the business restrictions are voicing their dissatisfaction. Although the government eased restrictions on academies and ski resorts, indoor sports facilities have been hit hard by three rounds of business bans.

They also claim that with no new members joining since the COVID-19 outbreak and the continued ban on gatherings, their livelihoods are under threat.

One netizen who identified themselves as a fitness center director said, "Ski resorts and Taekwondo dojangs can at least operate with restrictions. These places can also get infections if rules are not followed or mistakes are made," adding, "So why are only fitness centers and a few other businesses completely prohibited from operating? Why is there a difference in fairness?"

They continued, "If strict social distancing had been implemented for a short period to reduce confirmed cases, repeated business suspensions would not have been necessary," lamenting, "We are suffering huge damages due to the ongoing business suspension orders."

On the 4th, in Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Oh Seong-yeong, president of the National Health Club Directors Association, opened the door of his gym, and the police arrived to inspect the interior of the gym.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Some groups are taking collective action by defying the government's ban and continuing to operate fitness centers.

On the 5th, posts claiming "We opened the fitness center" were repeatedly posted on online communities related to fitness centers. Notably, Oh Seongyoung, president of the National Fitness Club Directors Association who operates a fitness center in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, posted on his Instagram the day before, saying, "We are reopening normally while following quarantine rules," and urged, "All self-employed people in the metropolitan area under the operation ban should also open normally."

He criticized, "Most of our people initially said to go for level 3 social distancing quickly and briefly, but the government kept boasting about K-quarantine. What is this?" and added, "The masters (government) who receive salaries are starving to death, the owners (citizens) who pay them."

Besides President Oh, fitness center operators in Seoul's Yongsan-gu and Mapo-gu are also reportedly participating in the open protests.

Pilates business owners are also urging for fair and effective measures through the Blue House's national petition board. On December 30 last year, a petitioner identifying as a member of the Pilates and fitness business federation posted a petition titled "In the COVID era, indoor sports facilities need limited and flexible operation."

The petitioner stated, "On behalf of hundreds of representatives and thousands of instructors in the indoor sports industry, we urge the government to implement effective and fair policies."

They added, "Sports facility operators are also citizens. Those who violate rules should be punished appropriately. However, many have quietly endured by following government guidelines well," and appealed, "We hope the government listens to the cries of 'We will starve to death before COVID does.' This petition has received over 195,600 signatures as of 11 a.m. on the 5th."

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board capture.

In response to these controversies, health authorities stated they will "reflect on field opinions and make revisions and improvements." Jeong Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said at a regular briefing the previous afternoon, "We are well aware of the fairness issues raised across various sectors," adding, "We will continue to evaluate and improve fairness and the risk levels or measures for each facility and industry in social distancing, in consultation with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters."

Experts pointed out that extending social distancing without significant results is making the public more exhausted.

Professor Kim Woojoo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital, said, "Fairness issues have existed continuously until now. But as the 2.5-level social distancing period and special quarantine periods have been prolonged, people are finding it harder to endure," adding, "Measures like banning private gatherings of five or more have had some effect on quarantine, but the number of confirmed cases has not dramatically dropped below 200, so extending these quarantine guidelines again is exhausting."

He added, "It is difficult to completely eliminate fairness issues. However, as the quarantine period lengthens, fairness issues will be raised in various sectors."

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