Capital area at level 2, non-capital area at level 1.5... 'Ban on gatherings of 5 or more' remains (Update)

Non-metropolitan areas downgraded to social distancing level 1.5
Restrictions on restaurant and cafe operating hours lifted
Ban on private gatherings of 5 or more lifted

On the 10th, one day before the Lunar New Year holiday, the Express Bus Terminal in Seocho-gu, Seoul, showed a quiet scene. The government maintained social distancing measures prohibiting private gatherings of five or more people, including immediate family members, until the 14th. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport predicted that the number of holiday travelers returning home during this year's Lunar New Year would decrease by about 33% compared to last year, totaling 21.92 million. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The government will lower the social distancing measures in the Seoul metropolitan area from the current Level 2.5 to Level 2 starting from the 15th. Restaurants, cafes, and other establishments will be allowed to operate until 10 PM, one hour longer than before. In non-metropolitan areas, social distancing will be adjusted to Level 1.5, and operating hour restrictions will be lifted. However, the ban on private gatherings of five or more people will remain in place, with exceptions allowed for immediate family members.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the 13th that this decision was made after evaluating the recent quarantine management situation and risk levels. According to authorities, the average daily number of domestic cases over the past week (February 7?13) was 353.1, with 281.6 cases in the metropolitan area.

At a regular briefing that day, Kwon Deok-cheol, the first head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated, “Overall, non-metropolitan areas are maintaining a stable downward trend, while the metropolitan area’s decline has plateaued,” adding, “The metropolitan area meets the criteria for Level 2, and non-metropolitan areas meet the criteria for Level 1.”

Regarding the background of this easing of social distancing, he explained, “Most members of the Living Quarantine Committee agreed that an adjustment of the current social distancing levels was necessary, and all local governments in non-metropolitan areas requested easing. Based on these opinions, the government decided to lower the social distancing levels according to the current criteria.”

This measure will be maintained for two weeks from 0:00 on the 15th until the 28th of this month. However, depending on the epidemic situation, local governments may raise the level back to Level 2 considering their quarantine conditions.

With this adjustment, restrictions on operating hours for academies, study rooms, theaters, and large supermarkets in the metropolitan area will be lifted. Additionally, the operating hour restriction for restaurants, cafes, and other businesses previously limited to 9 PM will be relaxed to 10 PM. Accordingly, on-site dining will be allowed until 10 PM, after which only takeout and delivery will be permitted.

In non-metropolitan areas, with the downgrade to Level 1.5, multi-use facilities such as restaurants, cafes, karaoke rooms, indoor standing concert halls, indoor sports facilities, and party rooms will have operating hour restrictions lifted, provided they comply with quarantine rules. For cinemas and performance halls, at Level 1.5, operation with one seat left empty between companions is allowed.

The ban on private gatherings of five or more people remains unchanged. However, it has been partially revised so that the ban does not apply to immediate family members, even if they are not cohabiting.

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