Busan Nighttime Business Allowed Until 11 PM... From May 31 for 2 Weeks, Social Distancing Remains at Level 1.5

Considering Self-Employed Livelihoods, Operation Restrictions Adjusted to 11 PM Until June 13

5 Types of Entertainment Facilities Including Dance Halls, Hold'em Pubs, and Karaoke Rooms Restricted from 11 PM

Restaurants, Cafes, Convenience St

Panoramic view of Busan City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] The nighttime operating hours of business establishments in Busan will be extended by one hour, changing to 11 PM for two weeks starting from the 31st.

Busan City (Mayor Park Hyung-jun) announced on the 28th that while maintaining the current social distancing level 1.5, the operating restriction hours for restaurants, cafes, entertainment facilities, and singing practice rooms will be adjusted from 10 PM to 11 PM from the 31st to the 13th of next month.

Although there remains a risk of unknown infection routes and the spread of variant viruses in neighboring areas, the number of confirmed cases in the past week has decreased compared to the previous week, and the infection situation is being managed relatively stably with a decrease in critical patients and available hospital beds.

Busan City made this decision through a disaster response TF meeting, considering the urgency of small business owners and self-employed people suffering from long-term operating restrictions and the livelihood economy.

The main adjustments are ▲operating restrictions starting at 11 PM for five types of entertainment facilities (including dance halls), Hold'em pubs and Hold'em game rooms, and singing practice rooms ▲for restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, and street food stalls, dining inside the premises is allowed only until 11 PM, and after 11 PM, only takeout and delivery are permitted.

As the operating restriction hours are adjusted, the inspection of quarantine rules for operators and users of multi-use facilities will be strengthened.

For businesses violating quarantine rules, a "one-strike-out system" will be implemented, issuing an immediate two-week closure order in addition to fines. Also, periodic diagnostic testing (every two weeks) for workers in entertainment facilities will continue as before.

Busan City plans to closely analyze the weekly confirmed case trends and consider adjusting the level and strengthening quarantine measures.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun of Busan said, “I would like to thank the citizens, self-employed, and small business owners who have endured for a long time,” adding, “With this extension of operating hours, I hope the community’s quarantine efforts will not be loosened and that the hard fight against COVID-19 will not be in vain. We will do our best to manage the situation stably.”

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