"From Tomorrow, Jump Rope and Kickboxing Classes Allowed for Groups of 9 or Fewer... Gym Operations Permitted After the 17th (Comprehensive)"

Government Revises Confusing Indoor Sports Facility Closure Guidelines

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] "It's allowed to teach jump rope at Taekwondo dojangs, but jump rope specialty academies cannot open...".

To address the contradictions in the exemption measures from gathering bans that have sparked fairness controversies, the government decided from the 8th to allow lessons with up to 9 children or students at all indoor sports facilities in the Seoul metropolitan area. A government official said on the 7th, "Currently, quarantine guidelines permit lessons with up to 9 people at the same time only for sports dojang businesses such as Taekwondo, wrestling, and boxing. We will apply this to all indoor sports facilities," adding, "To promptly resolve issues raised by related industries, this will be implemented immediately from tomorrow (the 8th)."

Additional Permission for Jump Rope, Martial Arts Academies, Indoor Soccer, etc.
For Children and Student Attendees

With this regulation, indoor sports facilities such as jump rope, kickboxing, special martial arts, indoor soccer, and basketball can additionally open. The number of students receiving lessons at the same time must not exceed 9 for children and students up to the third year of high school. Previously, the government extended social distancing measures at level 2.5 in the metropolitan area and level 2 in non-metropolitan areas from the 4th to the 17th of this month, maintaining the gathering ban on indoor sports facilities in the metropolitan area. However, under the pretext of addressing childcare gaps during winter vacation, exceptions were made allowing operation of places classified as sports dojang businesses under the Enforcement Rules of the Act on Installation and Use of Sports Facilities (Sports Facilities Act), provided the number of children and students receiving lessons at the same time does not exceed 9.

According to the Sports Facilities Act, the sports categories classified as sports dojang businesses include boxing, wrestling, Taekwondo, judo, kendo, wushu, and hapkido ? seven in total. Similar sports such as kickboxing and special martial arts were excluded from this classification and thus could not offer lessons. Because of this, some Taekwondo academies conducted jump rope training for their students, while jump rope specialty academies were completely unable to operate. There were also ambiguous cases where boxing gyms could hold lessons with up to 9 people, but kickboxing could not. This caused strong opposition from owners of indoor sports facilities not classified as sports dojang businesses.

An owner of an indoor sports facility in Seoul questioned, "The gathering ban is imposed on all facilities under the principle of quarantine, but only those registered as sports dojang businesses are exceptionally allowed to operate ? what kind of standard is this?" In response to such controversies, related ministries decided to revise the guidelines. Son Young-rae, head of the Strategic Planning Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said, "As the quarantine rule system becomes more complex and subdivided by detailed industries, fairness controversies arise. We will enhance communication by collecting field opinions as much as possible and supplement the rules to ensure they work well."

Image source=Yonhap News

Gyms, Screen Golf, Billiard Halls, and Other Facilities
Likely to Lift Gathering Ban from the 17th
Including Karaoke Rooms and Academies

In discussions held the previous day among related ministries, it was agreed to reassess the quarantine situation and risk levels of each facility after the social distancing extension ends on the 17th, aiming to lift the gathering ban on other indoor sports facilities such as gyms, screen golf, and billiard halls. This also includes karaoke rooms, indoor performance venues, and academies.

A government official said, "As the strengthened social distancing measures have prolonged, many industries are voicing livelihood concerns. Under the condition of strict compliance with quarantine rules, related ministries will create detailed guidelines to allow these facilities to resume operations." For example, adjusting the number of people allowed to enter at the same time to maintain a 2-meter distance and strengthening sanctions for violations of quarantine measures.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the main ministry responsible for indoor sports facilities, will meet with industry representatives today under the leadership of the 2nd Vice Minister to seek solutions. Previously, gym owners nationwide protested against the government's quarantine standards, and other facilities such as screen golf have demanded countermeasures, citing significant damage caused by unilateral gathering bans.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the same day, "As the endless frustration continues, fairness controversies over quarantine standards have emerged, and collective opposition movements in some industries have appeared. We will promptly supplement quarantine standards that are unfair or lack field acceptance."

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