A Place I Visited Daily... "If You Haven't Been Vaccinated, You Cannot Dine In the Store"

First Day of 'Quarantine Pass' Enforcement

Proof of Vaccination or PCR Test Required for Restaurants, Cafes, Academies, and Cinemas
Fines: 100,000 KRW for Users, 3 Million KRW for Business Owners

"Difficult to Check Each Customer When Busy"
Concerns Over Excessive Burden on Business Operators
Complaints Also from Unmanned Store Operators

As the government implements measures to expand the use of the quarantine pass and additional vaccinations to curb the spread of COVID-19, from the 13th, anyone wishing to use indoor multi-use facilities such as restaurants, cafes, academies, and libraries must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination completion or a negative test result confirming they are not infected. The grace period for the expanded quarantine pass (vaccination proof and negative confirmation system), which was applied from the 6th, ends on this day, and enforcement will begin. The photo shows a cafe in downtown Seoul on the 13th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Jeong Dong-hoon and Lee Jung-yoon] "You two haven't been vaccinated? Ah, then you cannot dine inside the store..."

At 8 a.m. on the 13th, at a cafe near Chungmuro in Jung-gu, Seoul, staff stopped a group including two unvaccinated individuals from entering the store. Although a customer grumbled, "I come here every day..." the cafe employee wore an awkward expression and said, "Starting today, we are enforcing the (quarantine pass), and we could be fined up to 1.5 million won." This day marked the first enforcement of the 'quarantine pass (vaccination certificate/negative test confirmation system)' across most multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes. To use facilities like restaurants, cafes, academies, movie theaters, performance halls, reading rooms, PC rooms, and indoor (sports viewing) stadiums, one must present either a completed vaccination certificate or a negative COVID-19 PCR test result. If you are the only unvaccinated person in a group at a restaurant or cafe, you may attend. Eating alone is also allowed, but if two unvaccinated people gather, entry is prohibited.

Violations result in fines for both users and facility operators. Under the 'Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act,' users face fines up to 100,000 won. Business owners face fines up to 1.5 million won for the first violation and up to 3 million won for the second. Additionally, failure to comply with quarantine guidelines can lead to business suspension orders: 10 days for the first offense, 20 days for the second, 3 months for the third, and closure orders for the fourth.

At another cafe in Jung-gu, an employee greeted customers with, "Please show your quarantine pass." They added, "We ask for your understanding and cooperation during this period." Entry was only allowed after verifying vaccination history through the 'KDCA COOV' application. Most restaurants and cafes appeared determined to strictly follow the quarantine pass entry procedures to avoid fines exceeding 1 million won.

However, concerns were also expressed about the mandatory quarantine pass in multi-use facilities. Due to the busy nature of customer service, it is difficult to check each vaccination certificate or PCR negative confirmation. Park (52), who runs a restaurant in Seocho-gu, said, "Honestly, when it's busy, we just ask customers to scan the QR code without actually verifying it. Now we also have to check if they have been vaccinated. It feels like an excessive burden on business owners." Lee (38), who operates a cafe nearby, added, "I haven't felt a big impact yet, but verifying vaccination status while running the store won't be as easy as it sounds."

On the 13th, a fast food restaurant in downtown Seoul displayed a notice informing customers about the application of the quarantine pass. From this day forward, to use major indoor multi-use facilities such as restaurants, cafes, academies, and libraries, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test result is required. Violators, including both business owners and users, will be fined. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Those running unmanned stores also voiced complaints. Lee (36), who operates an unmanned study cafe, said, "Since staff do not stay on-site continuously, applying the quarantine pass is challenging," adding, "I will urgently visit the store to check and consider hiring additional part-time workers."

In fact, some business owners were unaware of the quarantine pass enforcement and continued operating as before. A knife-cut noodle specialty restaurant in Jung-gu was checking the number of entrants via a safe call system but did not verify vaccination status or PCR negative results through apps or other means. The restaurant owner lamented, "How can we run a business while checking vaccination status one by one?" A nearby snack bar posted notices with safe call phone numbers but did not conduct separate verification procedures. The restaurant owner said, "Only self-employed people are being forced to bear the responsibility for quarantine."

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