Metropolitan Area Gathering Ban Facilities, Review of Permission Measures After the 17th... Karaoke Rooms and Academies Included

Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Revises Gathering Ban Guidelines

The lights are off at a karaoke room in Hongdae, Mapo-gu, Seoul last month. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Daeyeol] The government announced that it is considering a plan to allow limited business operations for facilities designated as subject to gathering bans to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) after the 17th. In the metropolitan area, many facilities such as singing practice rooms and academies are currently under gathering bans, but the government aims to minimize damage caused by business suspensions by carefully reviewing quarantine rules.

On the 7th, Son Young-rae, head of the Strategic Planning Team at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH), said at a back briefing, "We are reviewing a plan to allow operations after the 17th by re-evaluating the quarantine situation and risk levels of each facility for gathering-ban industries in the metropolitan area, including not only indoor sports facilities but also singing practice rooms and academies," adding, "We will supplement the rules by reflecting field opinions under the condition of complying with quarantine rules."

Currently, social distancing is at level 2.5 in the metropolitan area and level 2 in non-metropolitan areas, with additional measures such as banning private gatherings of five or more people applied until the 17th. Amid this, limited operations have been allowed for some facilities such as academies since the 4th, sparking controversy over fairness.

In fact, the rules differ depending on the registered industry despite operating in almost the same way and having similar infection risks. In response to the complaints, the government changed the rules so that from the 8th, indoor sports facilities that perform care functions like academies or Taekwondo academies can be used by nine or fewer children or students.

On the afternoon of the 4th, children are receiving lessons at a Taekwondo academy in Seoul, where operation restrictions on academies and private institutes in the metropolitan area have been partially lifted under the condition that groups are limited to nine people or fewer and quarantine rules are followed.

Son said, "The quarantine rule system is complex, and the more detailed the sub-industries are divided and applied, the more fairness controversies inevitably arise," adding, "There is concern about side effects such as the relaxation of quarantine vigilance."

The government plans to meet with related organizations and associations to organize effective quarantine rules when allowing business operations. While preventing the spread of infectious diseases is important, the government also stated that it is considering ways to minimize damage across society and the economy, allowing operations as much as possible if quarantine rules are followed, and refining existing rules more meticulously.

Son said, "Rather than taking preemptive measures, we will proceed in a way that allows stable quarantine management through sufficient discussion," and added, "We believe that a balance to normalize and recover daily life without increasing the (COVID-19) risk is important."

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