Metropolitan Area Gatherings Now Limited to 8 People... No Extension for Restaurant and Cafe Operating Hours

Prime Minister Kim Announces Final Social Distancing Adjustment Plan
Reading Rooms and Study Cafes Open Until Midnight

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is delivering opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 15th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Seo So-jeong and Moon Chae-seok] Starting from the 18th, the limit on private gatherings will be increased to a maximum of 8 people in the Seoul metropolitan area and up to 10 people in non-metropolitan areas. Study rooms and study cafes in level 4 areas, including the metropolitan area, will have their operating hours extended until midnight, and outdoor sports events, which were previously held without spectators, will allow up to 30% of total capacity for fully vaccinated individuals.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum stated at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the 15th, "From next week, in level 4 areas (the metropolitan area), gatherings of up to 8 people will be allowed regardless of the time before or after 6 p.m., including 4 fully vaccinated individuals. In level 3 areas, an additional 2 fully vaccinated people will be allowed, making gatherings of up to 10 people possible."

The government decided to apply the capacity limits, which had so far been applied only to restaurants and cafes, uniformly to all multi-use facilities starting next week. Restrictions on operating hours for lower-risk multi-use facilities will also be eased. In particular, considering the situation of students preparing for the upcoming college entrance exam next month, the government will allow study rooms and study cafes in level 4 areas, including the metropolitan area, to operate until midnight.

Although the government is partially easing quarantine measures, it will maintain the current social distancing levels of level 4 in the metropolitan area and level 3 in non-metropolitan areas. The rationale is to reduce the risk of infection by relaxing quarantine rules mainly for fully vaccinated individuals while moving one step closer to normal life recovery.

Prime Minister Kim said, "We need to observe the effects of the Hangul Day holiday and the upcoming autumn foliage season, so it is still too early to be complacent, but the number of confirmed cases, which surged after the Chuseok holiday, has recently been gradually decreasing," adding, "The '70% nationwide vaccination rate' is expected to be achieved as early as next week." He further added, "I hope this will be the last adjustment of social distancing so that phased recovery of daily life can begin from November."

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