Choi Jae-hyung "When Will the Public Have to Endure the Messy Quarantine Guidelines?"

Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, a preliminary presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is announcing labor policy at his camp in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 20th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] Choi Jae-hyung, former head of the Board of Audit and Inspection and a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, raised his voice in criticism of the Moon Jae-in administration's COVID-19 quarantine guidelines.

On the 21st, Choi posted on Facebook, "Chaotic quarantine guidelines, how long must the people endure?"

The government announced the COVID-19 quarantine guidelines the previous day, extending the social distancing levels for two more weeks: Level 4 in the metropolitan area and Level 3 in non-metropolitan areas. In areas where Level 4 social distancing is applied, the operating hours for restaurants and cafes were changed from 10 PM to 9 PM. However, private gatherings of up to four people, including two vaccinated individuals, are allowed after 6 PM only for restaurants and cafes.

Choi criticized, "They say this measure considers the difficulties of small business owners, but they actually shortened restaurant and cafe operating hours by one hour," adding, "Although the criteria were relaxed for fully vaccinated people, in private spaces, four people cannot gather, so children living separately cannot even have a meal together at their parents' house. This is an irresponsible quarantine guideline that disregards both effectiveness and fairness." Under Level 4 social distancing, even immediate family members must follow the 'no gatherings of three or more people' rule after 6 PM unless they live together.

He continued, "The incompetent government is once again shifting pain and damage onto the people. Is it safe for four people to gather in a restaurant but dangerous for four people to gather at home? Is it safe for four people to gather at 10 AM but dangerous at 10 PM?" He pointedly asked, "With these chaotic, patchwork quarantine guidelines, how long will the people be made to suffer?"

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