[Q&A] Greater Seoul Area Level 4 Restrictions: 'Only Gatherings of 2 People After 6 PM'... What About Families Living Together?

Regular Briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters on COVID-19 on the 9th

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Starting next week, gatherings in the metropolitan area will be limited to a maximum of two people after 6 p.m. Restaurants, cafes, and academies, among other multi-use facilities, will only be allowed to operate until 10 p.m., and all entertainment establishments such as nightclubs, karaoke bars, and emotional pubs will be completely banned from gathering. Schools will also switch entirely to remote classes starting from the 14th.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) held a meeting at the Government Seoul Office on the 9th and decided to apply the new Level 4 social distancing measures to the metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, excluding Ganghwa and Ongjin counties). Considering the need for a preparation period, the measures will be implemented from midnight on the 12th for two weeks until midnight on the 25th of this month. The government plans to evaluate the epidemic situation during this period and decide whether to extend the current level or adjust the measures.

Specifically, private gatherings are allowed up to four people before 6 p.m., and only up to two people after 6 p.m. Exceptions previously allowed under the existing distancing system, such as immediate family and first birthday parties, will no longer be recognized. Events and assemblies, except for one-person protests, are prohibited, and weddings and funerals are limited to 49 participants, including relatives within the eighth degree of kinship, relatives within the fourth degree by marriage, and spouses.

In addition to the Level 4 measures, the application of vaccination incentives as an additional quarantine rule will also be suspended. Even vaccinated individuals will not be excluded from the limits on the number of participants in family gatherings, private meetings/events, multi-use facilities, religious activities, and choir/small group meetings. Below is a Q&A.

The number of new COVID-19 cases has been breaking records day after day. The government has decided to implement a new Level 4 social distancing measure in the metropolitan area for two weeks starting from the 12th, including a strict quarantine measure allowing only up to two people to gather after 6 p.m. On the 9th, office workers are moving for lunch in Myeongdong, Seoul. Photo by Mun Honam munonam@

- Why is the new Level 4 social distancing being applied to the metropolitan area instead of upgrading to the existing Level 2.5 or the new Level 3?

▲(Son Young-rae, Head of Social Strategy at CDSCH) Since July, local governments and various organizations have been preparing for the new social distancing system by conducting pilot projects in each region. Due to the worsening epidemic situation in the metropolitan area, the transition to the new system was postponed, and the previous system was maintained. Strengthening the existing system to control the current worsening epidemic could cause confusion nationwide. Therefore, discussions have been ongoing about upgrading to Level 3 or 4 under the new system. There has been no disagreement among local governments and medical experts regarding the transition to Level 4 to curb the metropolitan outbreak.

- Given the severe spread of COVID-19 in the metropolitan area, why is the social distancing not being upgraded immediately from tomorrow (the 10th)?

▲(Kwon Deok-cheol, First Deputy Director of CDSCH) Practically, we considered implementing private gathering restrictions starting today (the 9th). However, during internal government review, it was recognized that since this is the first time Level 4 measures are being implemented, the field must be prepared to accept them. Also, once regulations are imposed, penalties follow immediately. Therefore, to allow sufficient prior notice, we first recommend voluntary restraint and will enforce private gathering restrictions starting Monday.

- What is the reason for setting the gathering ban based on 6 p.m.?

▲(Head Son) Rather than seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases after 6 p.m., we distinguished between socially essential and non-essential activities by time. The basic principle of Level 4 is to minimize unnecessary gatherings, appointments, and outings and to encourage people to stay home. However, since essential social activities cannot be completely excluded, this time threshold was set. Non-essential social activities are considered to increase more after 6 p.m.

- It is said that cohabiting family members are exempt. Does this mean that even immediate family members living separately cannot meet after 6 p.m.?

▲(Head Son) Under the previous distancing levels, exceptions were made for immediate family members. Even if the limit was four people, immediate family members were exempt from this limit. However, from Level 4, such exceptions are removed. Only cohabiting family members are exempt because they live together in the same residence, making it difficult to enforce the two- or four-person limit within that space.

On the 9th, as the number of new COVID-19 cases reached 1,316, breaking record highs day after day, citizens lined up at a screening clinic set up at the Gangnam-gu Public Health Center in Seoul to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

- For group sports like outdoor golf, if four people start before 6 p.m. but continue past 6 p.m., what happens?

▲(Head Son) Administrative enforcement is based on the ending time. Since private gatherings of up to two people are allowed after 6 p.m., if four people remain gathered, it violates the regulations. However, regarding penalties, local governments will consider the intentionality or negligence of the cases before applying sanctions. It is unlikely that penalties will be uniformly applied to all cases; decisions will be flexible, considering intent.

- The vaccination-based relaxation incentives have been excluded. Why?

▲(Head Son) Level 4 is the last resort measure, intending to minimize gatherings, appointments, and outings and encourage staying home. If exceptions or exclusions for vaccinated individuals regarding gathering limits were applied, many violations would occur in practice. It is also difficult to distinguish vaccinated individuals in the field. Therefore, to align the social atmosphere toward restraint, exceptions for vaccinated people are suspended.

- Under Level 4, schools will close; please explain the guidelines for academies in detail.

▲(Lee Sang-soo, Director of School Innovation Support at the Ministry of Education) Academies are subject to the same standards as other multi-use facilities. They will be restricted to operating until 10 p.m. Unlike schools, which will switch to remote classes from the 14th, academies will have no preparation period and will be subject to these restrictions starting from the 12th. Under Level 4, the seat spacing rule will change from one seat apart (applied from Level 3) to two seats apart, and usage will be limited until 10 p.m., representing two main changes.

- Only relatives are allowed at wedding and funeral halls. Is it possible to prepare separate spaces on floors other than the event floor to accommodate additional people?

▲(Head Son) Verification of kinship will be conducted during quarantine inspections if necessary. Since the limit of 50 people applies only to relatives, it is practically difficult to exceed 50. If separate spaces are arranged for more than 50 people, it might be possible, but inspections will verify whether such gatherings consist only of relatives. Regarding cancellation fees, the Fair Trade Commission has already established standard terms and conditions, which provide for some reduction of penalties for cancellations or changes due to social distancing measures.

- The spread is also gradually appearing in non-metropolitan areas.

▲(Head Son) Non-metropolitan areas adjust their distancing levels based on their criteria and epidemic situations. They also strengthen quarantine measures flexibly, considering local risks. For example, in popular travel destinations, drinking bans or capacity limits are imposed specifically for those areas. Along with local efforts, the central government will continue to recommend that metropolitan residents avoid traveling to non-metropolitan areas.

- Will compensation under the Loss Compensation Act be available starting from this Level 4 upgrade?

▲(Head Son) Approximately 960,000 facilities in the metropolitan area are estimated to be affected by operating hour restrictions. The Loss Compensation Act will be enforced three months after the enactment of enforcement ordinances and rules, but compensation applies to losses incurred after the act’s promulgation on July 7. Therefore, losses caused by this Level 4 measure fall within the compensation scope. However, the specific details, scope, and criteria of compensation will be reviewed and prepared in detail by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups during the three-month period of drafting enforcement ordinances and rules.

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