Chuseok Family Gatherings Up to 8 People... Welcome but Uncertain Aftermath of Nationwide Travel

70% First Dose Vaccination Rate
Relief in Quarantine Ahead of Chuseok
Countdown to 'With Corona' Transition

Up to 99 Attendees Allowed
If No Meals Served at Weddings

Visits Allowed for Fully Vaccinated
at Nursing Hospitals and Facilities During 2 Weeks of Chuseok

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced the adjustment plan for social distancing measures during the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 3rd. On this day, Prime Minister Kim stated, "The current social distancing levels (Level 4 in the metropolitan area and Level 3 in non-metropolitan areas) will be extended until October 3, and the operating hours of restaurants and cafes in Level 4 areas such as the metropolitan area will be restored from 9 PM to 10 PM." Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The government has increased incentives for COVID-19 vaccination again. In the metropolitan area, the allowed number of private gatherings has been raised to six, strengthening incentives for those who have completed COVID-19 vaccination. This move is interpreted as an effort to ease quarantine measures around the Chuseok holiday, considering that the extension of strict social distancing for another four weeks will further increase the damage to self-employed individuals and small business owners.

Although the number of confirmed cases has increased, the death and severe case rates have decreased, making this a transitional measure toward 'With Corona.' However, since the number of new COVID-19 cases has remained in the four digits for nearly two months and nationwide movement is expected to increase during the Chuseok holiday, there is a possibility of a sudden surge in cases, which could become a variable.

More Freedom for Fully Vaccinated Gatherings... Strengthened Vaccination Incentives

The government announced on the 3rd that it will maintain the current level 4 social distancing in the metropolitan area and level 3 in non-metropolitan areas from the 6th of this month until the 3rd of next month. Due to the Chuseok holiday, the usual two-week application period has been extended to four weeks, and the allowed number of private gatherings, including fully vaccinated individuals, has been expanded from the current four to six in the metropolitan area and eight in non-metropolitan areas. Operating hours for multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes will also be extended from 9 PM to 10 PM. Additionally, weddings currently allowed up to 49 people under levels 3-4 will permit up to 99 attendees if no meals are provided.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum stated, "It is now impossible to ignore the cries of small business owners and self-employed people suffering from repeated strengthened quarantine measures," and urged, "I ask that at least a minimum number of people who have completed vaccination gather to share joy safely and happily." The government plans to consider lowering the social distancing level depending on the scale of the outbreak and, if the outbreak size remains steady, to further ease quarantine measures focusing on vaccination.

Along with adjusting social distancing, the government will implement special quarantine measures for the Chuseok holiday from the 13th to the 26th for two weeks to prevent the spread of infection. During the one-week Chuseok holiday (17th?23rd), family gatherings of up to eight people, including four fully vaccinated individuals, will be allowed. First-dose vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals are limited to four people. These rules do not apply to multi-use facilities in level 4 areas and are only allowed for gatherings within homes. Additional railway tickets will not be sold, and only window seats will be available. Highway tolls will be collected as usual. Coastal passenger ships will operate at 50% capacity. National and public facilities, museums, and other cultural and artistic facilities will operate by reservation and charge admission fees (some royal tombs).

Visits to nursing hospitals and facilities will be allowed regardless of social distancing levels during the two weeks from the 13th to the 26th around Chuseok. Contact visits are permitted only if both the patient/resident and visitor have completed vaccination; otherwise, non-contact visits are allowed.

Preparatory Stage for Transition to With Corona: "Vaccination Plans Must Proceed as Scheduled"

With the increase in the allowed number of private gatherings for fully vaccinated individuals and partial allowance of family gatherings during the Chuseok holiday, there is a possibility of an increase in confirmed cases. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight today, there were 1,709 new COVID-19 cases, marking the 59th consecutive day of four-digit figures. Although the number has fallen below 2,000 for two consecutive days, the spread centered in the metropolitan area remains uncontrolled. By region, Seoul reported 540 cases, Gyeonggi 513, and Incheon 115, with the metropolitan area accounting for a total of 1,168 cases (69.7%), nearly 70% of the total.

Experts analyze that this easing of quarantine measures is largely a transitional step toward With Corona. Professor Jung Jae-hoon of Gachon University College of Medicine said, "Even if 70% of the entire population receives the first dose of the vaccine before the Chuseok holiday, it is unlikely that confirmed cases will decrease to below 1,000 as before," adding, "It is a time to seek coexistence with COVID-19." Professor Jung emphasized, "The government must carefully manage to prevent a surge in confirmed cases due to eased measures and ensure that vaccination proceeds as planned for the public."

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