"'Let's have a 'Daytime Gathering·Weekend Gathering'' They said not to meet in the evening, but sneaky meetings are 'active' [Life Ruined by COVID-19]"

'Lunchtime Daenatbeong'
'Weekendbeong' Targeting Weekend Afternoons

Loophole Gatherings Emerge Amid 4th Stage Strengthened Measures

On the first day of Level 4 social distancing in the Seoul metropolitan area on the 12th, citizens are dining at a restaurant on Hongdae Street in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Under the Level 4 measures, gatherings of up to 4 people are allowed before 6 p.m., and only up to 2 people are allowed afterward. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Due to the spread of COVID-19, the social distancing Level 4 in the Seoul metropolitan area has officially started, allowing gatherings of up to 4 people before 6 p.m. and only 2 people after 6 p.m. However, some people, exhausted by the further strengthened quarantine measures, are finding loopholes in the regulations to continue their gatherings.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), the Level 4 social distancing in the metropolitan area will be implemented for two weeks from midnight on the 12th until midnight on the 25th. After 6 p.m., under the 'ban on gatherings of 3 or more people' rule, only up to 2 people can meet. This essentially acts as a 'nighttime outing' restriction. However, some are still holding gatherings by avoiding times or places where the number restrictions are strictly enforced.

In a KakaoTalk chatroom for office workers, a so-called ‘daytime gathering’ has appeared, where workers from similar areas meet for lunch. The organizer posts locations such as Yeouido or Gangnam Station and menus, and nearby office workers who want to participate apply. Since it is an anonymous chatroom where real names are not disclosed, these gatherings tend to be one-off events.

In another chatroom, ‘weekend gatherings’ for daytime drinking are popular. As gatherings of 3 or more people after work have become practically impossible, the time has been shifted to weekends. The most popular gathering spots in this anonymously operated chatroom are in the Seoul and Gyeonggi areas, where confirmed cases are surging.

There are also ‘travel gatherings’ to areas where Level 4 distancing is not applied. While the government enforces Level 4 distancing in the metropolitan area, Incheon’s Ganghwa-gun and Ongjin-gun are exceptions and are under Level 2 distancing. As a result, citizens from the metropolitan area are turning their steps toward Ganghwa-gun, Ongjin-gun, and other such places.

In this way, movements to evade the government’s strong measures aimed at minimizing social contact within the metropolitan area through restrictions on private gatherings are emerging here and there. However, if someone points out quarantine issues in the chatrooms, they are often labeled on a ‘blacklist’ or kicked out. The organizers of the gatherings say, “We mainly recruit those who have tested negative for COVID-19 or have been vaccinated, so what’s the problem?” and instead scold those who raise concerns.

Although the CDSCH emphasized, "We request that private gatherings be refrained from as much as possible, and that people return home immediately after work to avoid going out," and "It is a critical situation where the active practice and participation of the public in minimizing meetings and appointments and staying at home is important," people seem to be exhausted by the prolonged quarantine measures.

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