From Today, Meetings with Up to 8 People Including Family Introductions and Children Allowed... Bathhouses Open Until 10 PM

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] From today, gatherings for meetings between families or those with infants and young children are allowed up to 8 people. Immediate family members, who were previously allowed to meet without any limit on the number of people, can now meet only up to 8 people.

The government will extend the current 'social distancing' measures (Level 2 in the metropolitan area, Level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas) for two weeks until midnight on the 28th to curb the spread of COVID-19. Accordingly, the 10 PM operating hour restriction for multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes in the metropolitan area will remain in place. Entertainment facilities in non-metropolitan areas can operate without any time restrictions starting today.

The government has partially eased the ban on private gatherings of five or more people but limited immediate family gatherings to a maximum of 8 people. This is because infections among family members have continued, and large family gatherings of 20 or more people have frequently occurred, raising concerns about the spread of infection.

An exception is also applied when accompanied by infants and young children under the age of 6. When accompanied by preschool children under 6 years old, gatherings of up to 8 people are exceptionally allowed. In this case, the number of people excluding infants and young children is limited to 4.

For example, a gathering of 5 infants and 3 people excluding infants is allowed, but a gathering of 2 infants and 5 people excluding infants is not allowed. Also, a gathering of 6 infants and 3 people excluding infants is not allowed because the total number including infants reaches 9.

Meetings for marriage introductions are also allowed up to 8 people. Although such meetings were previously included in the ban on private gatherings of five or more people, considering the prolonged postponement of marriage introduction meetings between both families, gatherings with parents from both sides for a meal are now allowed up to 8 people.

Specialized venues for first birthday parties (Doljanchi) can also operate. Under strict compliance with core quarantine rules and applying the number of people allowed according to the distancing level as in wedding halls, up to 99 people can attend Doljanchi in the metropolitan area.

However, bathhouse businesses in the metropolitan area are restricted from operating after 10 PM. In bathhouses where wearing masks is difficult, conversations with bathhouse attendants are prohibited, and a distance of 2 meters (at least 1 meter) between users in the sweating rooms must be maintained.

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