Gwangju City Extends Social Distancing Level 1.5 for 2 Weeks Until the 28th... Some Easing Implemented

Ban on Private Gatherings of Fewer Than 5 People Continues... Up to 8 Allowed for Immediate Family and Meetings

Restrictions on Entertainment Venues Operating Until 10 PM Lifted... Operating Hours Limit for Adult Arcades Removed

Kim Jong-hyo, Deputy Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, is holding an online briefing on COVID-19 at the city hall briefing room on the afternoon of the 12th. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City has decided to extend the social distancing level 1.5, which is set to end on the 14th, for two more weeks until the 28th.

On the 12th at 1:30 PM, Kim Jong-hyo, Deputy Mayor of Gwangju, held an online briefing related to COVID-19 and stated, “The average number of confirmed local infections in Gwangju over the past week was 7.9, similar to the previous week’s average of 7.1. According to the government’s decision, social distancing level 1.5 will be extended for two weeks.”

The city decided to adjust quarantine measures in accordance with nationwide changes to quarantine measures for certain facilities to alleviate livelihood issues and restrictions on daily life caused by the prolonged COVID-19 situation.

First, ▲the ban on private gatherings of five or more people will be maintained, while some exceptions will be additionally adjusted.

Currently, exceptions to the ban on private gatherings are allowed for cases where immediate family members gather, when care is needed for children, elderly, or disabled persons, and when family members gather due to the possibility of a deathbed situation. Added to the exceptions are matchmaking meetings for marriage, infants under six years old, and specialized venues for first birthday parties (Doljanchi).

However, in cases of immediate family, matchmaking meetings, and infants, gatherings are limited to a maximum of eight people.

For specialized Doljanchi venues, operation is allowed if there is a manager who can oversee quarantine management, but the total number of attendees is limited to one person per 4㎡ of facility area. Doljanchi held outside specialized venues will still be subject to the existing ban on private gatherings.

▲The restriction on operating entertainment facilities after 10 PM will be lifted.

The city considered fairness with other industries and will thoroughly conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance with core quarantine rules to minimize risks during operation.

Strong measures such as a two-week closure (one-strike-out policy) will be enforced on businesses violating quarantine rules.

The core quarantine rules for entertainment facilities include limiting users to one person per 8㎡ of the reported/approved facility area, adherence to the maximum of four people per room, mandatory compliance during singing (such as installing acrylic partitions and allowing only solo singing), prohibition of dancing in clubs and nightclubs (no operation of dance halls/dance floors), prohibition of moving between tables or rooms in hunting pubs and emotional pubs, and mandatory use of electronic entry logs (including entertainment workers).

Additionally, for colatecs, guidance includes prohibition of food consumption except water and non-alcoholic beverages, wearing gloves and masks during dance activities involving contact with others, and maintaining and guiding a distance of at least 1 meter between people performing different dance activities involving contact with others.

Other measures include ▲lifting operating hour restrictions on adult arcades, and allowing food consumption in movie theaters and performance halls.

Since the 9th, residents, inpatients, and visitors of nursing hospitals, elderly care facilities, elderly group homes, nursing homes, and psychiatric medical institutions have been conducting non-contact or contact visits according to government standards.

Meanwhile, the city also explained the COVID-19 vaccination efforts to achieve herd immunity on the same day.

In the Gwangju area, over 80% of priority vaccination targets such as nursing hospitals and elderly care facilities under 65 years old, and medical institutions at hospital level or higher, have completed vaccination. The vaccination target will be expanded to those aged 65 and older within this month, with plans to vaccinate up to about 40,000 people.

Deputy Mayor Kim Jong-hyo said, “This adjustment of quarantine measures is the result of careful consideration to alleviate the hardships of people’s livelihoods and to help citizens continue their precious daily lives,” and urged, “Citizens are asked to strictly follow quarantine rules such as the ban on private gatherings of five or more people, wearing masks indoors and outdoors, washing hands, regular ventilation, avoiding unnecessary outings, and refraining from conversation as much as possible while eating, so that everyone’s efforts and patience will not be in vain.”

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