Social Distancing Raised to Level 4... Religious Activities in the Capital Region Shift to 'Non-Face-to-Face'

The number of new COVID-19 cases has been breaking record highs 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, citizens are waiting to get tested at a temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] As COVID-19 cases surge, various religious gatherings will switch to non-face-to-face formats starting from the 12th.

On the 9th, the government raised the social distancing level in the metropolitan area to the highest level, Level 4. According to the elevated level applied from the 12th to the 25th, religious activities will only be allowed in non-face-to-face formats. This is the first time in about half a year since December last year.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Seoul announced on the same day, "In accordance with government and Seoul city quarantine guidelines, all masses will be conducted non-face-to-face, and all gatherings will be prohibited."

Accordingly, masses at the 232 parishes under the Seoul Archdiocese will be switched to non-face-to-face. The number of attendees at on-site masses will be limited to 20, including only the presiding priest, the minimum personnel required for the mass ceremony, and staff responsible for non-face-to-face video production and broadcasting.

The Catholic dioceses of Incheon, Suwon, and Uijeongbu, also located in the metropolitan area, announced that they will hold non-face-to-face masses for two weeks starting from the 12th.

The Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism's General Affairs Office also issued quarantine guidelines to temples nationwide, stating that regular services such as Sunday Dharma assemblies at temples in the metropolitan area will be conducted non-face-to-face. Funeral rites such as the 49-day memorial service and ancestral rites must comply with quarantine rules applicable to 'funeral halls,' and attendance is requested to be limited to immediate family members only.

On the other hand, the Protestant community centered on individual churches issued a statement under the name of the Korea Christian Federation (HanKyocheong) on the same day, expressing a critical stance toward the government's quarantine measures.

HanKyocheong stated, "Although religious facilities fall under non-face-to-face measures, quarantine principles should be applied considering fairness with essential daily life facilities," and demanded, "Specific measures should be prepared in a direction where basic worship with minimal attendance, including vaccinated participants, can proceed."

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