"I've been exercising well with a mask on until now"… Citizens Confused by Introduction of 'Vaccine Pass'

Mandatory Vaccine Pass for Karaoke and Gyms
Unvaccinated Must Present Negative Test Valid for 48 Hours to Enter
Citizens Say "Isn't This Discrimination Against the Unvaccinated?"

Citizens are exercising at a gym in Seoul. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Asia Economy DB.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "Please refund my gym membership.", "From next week, will unvaccinated people be banned from exercising?"

As the government transitions to a phased return to normal life (With Corona) starting next month, it has announced the introduction of a so-called 'vaccine pass' for certain multi-use facilities such as gyms and bathhouses, sparking controversy. The vaccine pass is a system that allows only those who have completed vaccination or have confirmed negative COVID-19 test results to use specific facilities.

Some express dissatisfaction with applying the vaccine pass to facilities closely related to daily life, such as indoor sports facilities. In particular, some citizens criticize the vaccine pass as a measure that effectively forces vaccination. Despite the controversy, the government maintains that there will be no delay or abolition of the vaccine pass introduction.

According to the draft implementation plan for 'phased return to normal life' prepared by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) on the 26th, the government plans to introduce the vaccine pass system from the 1st of next month, requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test result to use high-risk infection facilities.

The applicable targets include 130,000 facilities such as entertainment venues, karaoke rooms, horse racing and bicycle racing tracks, casinos, and events or gatherings with over 100 people, out of 2.09 million multi-use facilities nationwide. While proof of vaccination or a negative test is not required when visiting hospitals for treatment, it is mandatory to carry a vaccine pass when visiting or caring for hospitalized patients.

An information sign for "Tables including COVID-19 vaccinated individuals" is placed at a restaurant in Nowon-gu, Seoul. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Asia Economy DB.

The issue is that facilities frequently used by citizens in daily life, such as gyms, bathhouses, and table tennis halls, are included among those subject to the vaccine pass. Unvaccinated individuals are voicing complaints, asking, "Does this mean we can't use these facilities starting next week?"

Kim (30), an office worker who has been going to the gym for three months, said, "I've been exercising well while wearing a mask, so what is the point of suddenly introducing a vaccine pass?" He added, "Now I have no choice but to get vaccinated to continue going to the gym. It's absurd. I even recently paid for personal training (PT) sessions without knowing this would happen. What am I supposed to do?"

For people like Kim who have not completed COVID-19 vaccination, they can use gyms by presenting a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test result. However, since the validity period is only 48 hours, unvaccinated individuals would need to undergo testing every time they visit the gym if they go every three days. In practice, it will become difficult for unvaccinated people to use gyms.

Given this situation, gyms and sports centers have been receiving numerous refund inquiries. A netizen who identified themselves as a gym manager shared on the online community 'Because It's Painful, I'm the Boss' that "a university student asked if unvaccinated people can't exercise, so I told them it probably won't be allowed from the 1st of next month and that the measure might be lifted in December, so they should apply for an extension. But they requested a refund because they felt their exercise rhythm would be disrupted, so I processed the refund."

They continued, "A university student who registered for PT and was supposed to start this Friday is also likely to request a refund today," and expressed concern about what to do with regular customers who have been receiving PT for years but are either unvaccinated or have only received the first dose and are afraid to get the second.

Critics also argue that applying the vaccine pass will only cause confusion, especially considering that most indoor sports facility users are in their 20s and 30s, age groups with relatively low vaccination rates. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, as of the 25th, vaccination completion rates exceed 90% for those in their 50s to 70s, but are only in the low 70% range for those in their 20s and 30s.

As the government announced plans to introduce a vaccine pass, gyms and other facilities have been receiving numerous inquiries about refunds. Photo by Self-Employed Online Community 'Apeunikka Sajangida' screen capture.

Some also criticize the government for effectively forcing vaccination on the unvaccinated. In a petition titled "We earnestly request the abolition of the irrational and coercive vaccine pass for indoor sports facilities," the petitioner criticized, "In this situation where numerous side effects and deaths caused by vaccines are occurring, discriminatory and coercive government policies against those who cannot get vaccinated for health reasons or who are afraid to get vaccinated must never be allowed."

The petitioner pointed out, "It is really hard to accept that indoor sports facilities, where people wear masks and follow quarantine rules well, are strictly required to have vaccine passes like entertainment venues, while restaurants and cafes, where people take off masks, talk, and share food, have no vaccine pass requirements but only capacity limits."

Despite the situation, the government stated that there will be no delay or abolition of the vaccine pass introduction. On the 27th, Son Youngrae, head of the social strategy division at the CDSCH, said at a regular COVID-19 briefing in response to a question about whether they are considering delaying the vaccine pass, "Since the phased return to normal life aims to control minimum risks through the vaccine pass, the implementation of this system is absolutely necessary."

He added, "If we lift social distancing without any quarantine management for the return to normal life, the infection situation will inevitably worsen, and the healthcare system will face difficulties. No country in the world has found the best way to both lift social restrictions and quarantine measures," emphasizing the necessity of the vaccine pass.

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