Venues and Cinemas Allow 'Sitting with Companions' Even at Level 2.5 Restrictions

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dong-hyun] Starting from the 1st of next month, groups attending performances and movies together will be allowed to sit next to each other.

On the 31st, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun announced at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting that "the current social distancing level and quarantine standards will be extended as they are for two weeks until the end of the Lunar New Year holiday."

However, the seating distancing rules in performance venues and movie theaters have been partially adjusted in this measure. The CDSCH adjusted the quarantine rules to require one seat gap between non-companions for levels 1.5 and 2, and two seats gap for level 2.5. Until now, performance venues applied companion distancing at level 1.5, one seat gap at level 2, and two seats gap at level 2.5. Movie theaters required companion distancing at level 1.5 and one seat gap at levels 2 to 2.5.

This guideline is expected to provide some relief to the performing arts sector. According to the Arts Management Support Center’s Integrated Performing Arts Network, the performing arts sector’s sales plummeted from 15.6 billion KRW in November last year to 5 billion KRW in December, when the two-seat gap rule was applied.

With the government’s easing of quarantine rules for performance venues today, the musical "Ghost," which had been suspended for 60 days since early last month, will resume performances starting from the 2nd of next month. Additionally, musicals such as "Monte Cristo," "Hope," and "Gentleman's Guide," which had not been able to perform since their opening, are also discussing resuming performances.

"Man of La Mancha," which was scheduled to open in December last year but postponed three times, will start performances on the 2nd of next month. "The Last Empress," which opened this month but ended after only three preview performances, is also considering resuming performances.

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