Jeju Travel May Face Delays... "Social Distancing Raised to Level 4 from the 18th, Beaches Fully Closed"

Tourists visiting Jeju./Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Jeju Island will raise its social distancing level to Level 4 starting from the 18th due to a rapid increase in COVID-19 infection cases. The 12 designated beaches in the province will also close about two weeks earlier than usual.

Jeju announced on the 15th that social distancing will be elevated from the current Level 3 to Level 4 from midnight on the 18th until midnight on the 29th.

As of the 14th, the total cumulative confirmed cases in the province reached 2,078. In the past week (8th to 14th), 212 new confirmed cases were reported. The daily average of new cases is 30.29.

According to the government's revised social distancing application plan by local governments, Jeju, with a population of 700,000, applies Level 4 distancing if the weekly daily average of confirmed cases exceeds 27.

With the upgrade to Level 4, all 12 designated beaches in the province will close starting from the 18th, which is about two weeks earlier than in previous years.

Private gatherings are limited to up to 4 people before 6 p.m. and up to 2 people after 6 p.m. Even vaccinated individuals are subject to restrictions on the number of people in personal gatherings, events, and multi-use facilities.

However, exceptions are made for gatherings of cohabiting family members living in the same residence, cases requiring care workers for children (under 12 years old), elderly, or disabled persons, and gatherings for end-of-life farewells.

Events are completely banned, but weddings and funerals are allowed with a maximum cumulative attendance of 49 people per day.

For religious facilities, attendance at regular worship services, masses, Buddhist ceremonies, and memorial services is limited to 10% of seating capacity, and all other religious events are strictly prohibited.

Multi-use facilities can operate only until 10 p.m. Entertainment establishments such as nightclubs, karaoke bars, and clubs?totaling 1,035 locations in the province?are subject to administrative orders banning gatherings and are prohibited from operating. Coin karaoke rooms are also subject to the same gathering ban as entertainment facilities.

PC rooms are restricted from operating between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. the next day, and eating food is completely prohibited during operating hours.

The province will impose fines of up to 3 million KRW on businesses violating quarantine rules and up to 100,000 KRW on users. In cases with high infection risk, individual businesses may be ordered to close.

Furthermore, if violations are severe and cause cluster infections, the province plans to actively exercise its right to claim damages for quarantine costs and treatment expenses of confirmed patients.

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