Ban on Private Gatherings Raised Stepwise from 5 to 7 to 9 People? Authorities Say "Not Included in This Revision"

From 12:00 AM on the 14th, Gangwon Province will apply 'Social Distancing Reform Plan Level 1' in 15 cities and counties excluding Chuncheon, Wonju, and Gangneung, allowing private gatherings of up to 8 people. On the 14th, six coworkers are dining together at a restaurant in Yangyang-eup, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As the government announced that it will unveil a new social distancing reform plan on the 20th, attention is focused on what the plan will include. Reflecting this interest, a document claiming to confirm specific details such as a 'gradual implementation plan' circulated on social networking services (SNS), but authorities denied it, stating, "It is not included in this reform plan" and that no decision has been made.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, stated at the COVID-19 briefing on the 15th, "We plan to finalize and disclose the details of the social distancing reform plan this Sunday (20th)." A discussion on the reform plan was held at the previously convened Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting.

The newly released reform plan is expected to contain significantly relaxed measures compared to the current social distancing system. The draft previously released by the government included simplifying the current five-tier system (levels 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3) into four levels and easing restrictions such as operating hours for multi-use facilities. Restrictions on gatherings by the number of people, such as the ban on private gatherings of five or more, will also be incorporated as formal measures divided by stages.

In the new social distancing system, the distancing level will be determined based on the number of confirmed cases per 100,000 population in the area. If fewer than one person per 100,000 is confirmed, level 1 applies; if one or more per 100,000 are confirmed, level 2 applies.

If the current level of confirmed cases is maintained, level 2, the same as the current social distancing level, is expected to be applied in the metropolitan area. However, even at level 2, restaurants, cafes, singing rooms, party rooms, and entertainment facilities in the metropolitan area will be allowed to operate until midnight, and operating hour restrictions for other multi-use facilities will be lifted, significantly easing business hour limits. Additionally, the private gathering limit will be expanded from the current 'five or more' to 'nine or more,' allowing gatherings of up to eight people.

On the 11th, when the government announced the extension of the current social distancing measures (Level 2 in the metropolitan area, Level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas) and the ban on private gatherings of five or more people for three weeks, citizens lined up to get tested at a temporary COVID-19 screening clinic set up in the plaza of Seoul Station. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Ahead of the announcement of this reform plan, a document titled 'Key Contents of the Social Distancing System Reform (Draft)' was also circulated on SNS.

The document included a plan to establish a phased implementation period as a kind of intermediate stage, setting a three-week 'transition period' from the 5th to the 25th of next month when the system changes. This means a brief adjustment period before the full implementation of the reform plan.

According to the document, the private gathering ban criteria will not jump directly from 'five or more' to 'nine or more' at level 2 distancing but will be 'seven or more' during the transition period. Also, singing rooms and restaurants/cafes will have their operating hour restrictions lifted until midnight, but entertainment facilities will temporarily have a 10 p.m. operating hour limit.

Some media outlets reported that these details were effectively decided based on this document, but authorities explained, "The gradual implementation plan is not included in the social distancing reform plan to be announced this time" and emphasized that it is a matter for future consideration.

A health official stated, "There were some opinions that a gradual implementation plan is necessary," adding, "This is a matter that can be decided by assessing the epidemic situation at the end of this month and regional opinions just before the social distancing transition."

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