Convenience Store Franchisees: "Restaurant and Cafe Operating Hours Restricted to 9 PM, Surrounding Businesses All Suffer Together"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Kim] Convenience store franchisees have protested against the government's measure to shorten the operating hours of restaurants and cafes in Level 4 social distancing areas by one hour to 9 PM, calling it "killing the commercial district."

The National Convenience Store Franchise Association issued a statement on the 30th, saying, "The 9 PM operating restriction is essentially a guideline telling us not to do dinner business," and criticized, "Even though Level 4 is implemented, the number of confirmed cases does not decrease, yet the government continues to demand sacrifices only from the self-employed."

Regarding the government's "vaccine incentive," the association emphasized that it is insufficient to revitalize commercial districts, stating, "The first dose vaccination for the main customers in their 20s to 40s during the evening hours is only now beginning." The association demanded a reestablishment of quarantine guidelines, including applying differentiated measures by industry.

Kye Sang-hyuk, president of the National Convenience Store Franchise Association, said, "If restaurants and cafes cannot operate in the evening, the surrounding commercial districts, including convenience stores, will also die," adding, "Since the reduction of operating hours, many convenience stores near universities and academies have closed."

The government extended the current social distancing measures for two weeks until the 5th of next month on the 23rd, shortening the operating hours of restaurants and cafes in Level 4 areas by one hour from 10 PM to 9 PM. Eating inside convenience stores has been prohibited after 9 PM. Instead, up to four people, including those who have completed vaccination, are allowed to gather in restaurants and cafes after 6 PM.

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