Up to 6 People Allowed in Greater Seoul Private Gatherings 'Day 2 Night 4' Including Fully Vaccinated Participants

Social Distancing Level 4 Extended for One More Month

Up to 6 People Allowed in Level 4 Areas
During the Day, 2 Vaccinated Persons; At Night, Including 4 or More
Only Allowed When Using Multi-Use Facilities

Restaurants and Cafes in the Capital Area Can Operate Until 10 PM Again
Up to 8 People Allowed for Chuseok Family Gatherings

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced the adjustment plan for social distancing measures during the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the morning of the 3rd at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. 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 Reporters Chunhee Lee, Sunhee Son] This Chuseok holiday, family gatherings of up to 8 people will be allowed. The high-level social distancing measures of Level 4 in the metropolitan area and Level 3 in non-metropolitan areas will be extended for 4 weeks until the 3rd of next month. However, considering the difficulties faced by self-employed individuals, restaurants and cafes in the metropolitan area will be allowed to operate again until 10 PM, and incentives for those who have completed vaccination will be reinstated.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced these quarantine measures on the 3rd at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office.

First, the current Level 4 social distancing in the metropolitan area and Level 3 in non-metropolitan areas will be extended for an additional 4 weeks from the 6th until the 3rd of next month. At the same time, considering the economic impact, incentives for those who have completed COVID-19 vaccination have been revived.

If vaccinated individuals are included, the number of people allowed in private gatherings will significantly increase. In Level 4 areas, gatherings of up to 6 people are allowed, and in Level 3 areas, up to 8 people can gather. However, in Level 4 areas such as the metropolitan area, from 6 PM onwards, the group must include at least 2 vaccinated individuals during the day and at least 4 vaccinated individuals in the evening. This applies only when using multi-use facilities. In Level 3 areas, at least 4 vaccinated individuals must be present. Currently, regions like Daegu and Gyeongnam, which had been allowing private gatherings with vaccinated individuals without limits, will now allow gatherings of up to 8 people only.

The operating hours restriction for restaurants and cafes in the metropolitan area, which had been shortened to 9 PM, will be extended back to 10 PM, and the number of attendees allowed at weddings in Levels 3 and 4, currently capped at 49, will be increased to 99 on the condition that no meals are served.

Prime Minister Kim said, "The recent spread of COVID-19 seemed to slow down somewhat, but there are still days with 2,000 new cases, making the situation very unstable," and added, "We have rationally adjusted the quarantine standards to maintain strong prevention measures while alleviating some of the difficulties faced by the public."

Regarding Chuseok family gatherings, during the holiday period from the 17th to the 23rd, if 4 or more vaccinated individuals are included, gatherings of up to 8 people will be allowed even in Level 4 areas. However, this measure applies only to gatherings within homes, and in Level 4 multi-use facilities, even family gatherings are limited to no more than 6 people. Prime Minister Kim urged, "Please visit your hometown after receiving vaccination or diagnostic testing with the minimum number of people possible."

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