Karaoke and Gyms Open Until 9 PM, Cinemas Until 10 PM... Weddings Allowed Up to 299 Guests

Government Announces Strengthened Social Distancing Measures
Unvaccinated Individuals Prohibited from Gatherings in Restaurants and Cafes

Large-Scale Events and Assemblies Also Restricted
Limit of 299 People for Vaccinated and Others
Events Over 300 People Banned for Two Weeks

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As the spread of COVID-19 intensifies, the government has declared a halt to the 'gradual return to daily life (With Corona)' policy. The curfew that had disappeared except for entertainment facilities is being reinstated, and the number of participants allowed at events such as weddings will be drastically reduced.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the 16th strengthened social distancing measures reflecting these changes. These measures will be implemented for 16 days from the 18th of this month until January 2nd of next year.

Operating hour restrictions for multi-use facilities, which previously applied only to about 40,000 high-risk Group 1 entertainment facilities (until midnight), will be reinstated. In addition to entertainment facilities with a high risk of droplet transmission, approximately 960,000 Group 2 facilities (restaurants, cafes, karaoke rooms, bathhouses, gyms, etc.) will be allowed to operate only until 9 p.m. Dancing restaurants, host bars, and similar venues are also classified as entertainment facilities and must close by 9 p.m. Group 3 facilities with somewhat lower risk, such as movie theaters, performance halls, PC rooms, and academies, totaling about 1.05 million, as well as other groups (bicycle racing, motorboat racing, horse racing tracks, party rooms, kids cafes) with about 130,000 locations, may operate until 10 p.m.

Regarding academies, considering the ongoing university entrance exam schedule, only lifelong vocational education academies will be subject to operating hour restrictions; youth entrance exam academies will be exempt. However, Jeong Kyung-ik, Director of the Lifelong Education Bureau at the Ministry of Education, stated, "Some local education offices have ordinances applying operating hour restrictions to academies," adding, "If such restrictions exist, the operating hours must comply accordingly." Therefore, in regions like Seoul and Gyeonggi where local ordinances limit academy teaching hours to 10 p.m., academies can operate only until 10 p.m., regardless of the quarantine measures.

On the afternoon of the 13th, when the mandatory use of the quarantine pass began, a notice about the quarantine pass application was posted at a restaurant in downtown Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In particular, among the 16 types of facilities subject to the vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system (quarantine pass), restaurants and cafes?the only places where unvaccinated individuals were previously allowed entry?will face stricter quarantine pass regulations. The government had allowed unvaccinated individuals without a PCR negative certificate to use these facilities freely if alone, considering the essential nature of restaurants and cafes.

However, going forward, this will be further restricted: unvaccinated individuals without a PCR negative certificate will only be permitted to use these facilities alone for dining ('honbap' - eating alone) or drinking coffee ('honker' - drinking coffee alone), or for takeout and delivery. This aims to significantly reduce transmission risk from unvaccinated individuals. Exceptions to the quarantine pass will remain for those with PCR negative results, individuals under 18, COVID-19 recovered patients, and those exempted from vaccination for medical reasons.

Discussions were held regarding operating hour restrictions and quarantine pass application for multi-use facilities such as stores, marts, and department stores, but it was decided not to apply these measures to these facilities. Controller Lee Ki-il explained, "(These facilities) generally close around 10 p.m.," and thus they will be excluded from quarantine pass requirements.

Events and Gatherings Must Also Reduce Size... Weddings Limited to 299 Fully Vaccinated Attendees

Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The permitted size of large-scale events and gatherings, which could previously accommodate up to 499 people with the use of quarantine passes, will also be reduced.

With the start of With Corona, events without vaccination distinction allowed up to 99 people, and those with quarantine pass application allowed 100 to 499 participants. However, from the 18th, events without vaccination distinction will be limited to 49 people, and those with quarantine pass application will be limited to 50 to 299 participants.

Events exceeding 300 people, such as informal performance venues, sports competitions, and festivals, will be prohibited in principle. These events may be exceptionally held with prior approval from relevant ministries, but considering the severe quarantine situation, the government plans not to approve any non-essential events for about two weeks.

Events that previously did not require quarantine passes will now mandate them for gatherings of 50 or more. Accordingly, quarantine passes will apply to essential government and corporate management activities such as National Assembly meetings, corporate shareholder meetings, broadcasting production and transmission sites, exhibitions, fairs, and international conferences. However, no separate participant limit will be applied instead of the quarantine pass.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Weddings scheduled for this weekend, which had raised concerns about confusion among couples, will also see a significant reduction in the number of attendees allowed. Currently, weddings can have 49 unvaccinated and 201 fully vaccinated attendees, or up to 499 fully vaccinated attendees based on event and gathering standards. However, from the 18th, only up to 299 attendees who are fully vaccinated or equivalent will be allowed. First birthday parties and funerals will follow the same standards as general events.

Strengthening quarantine rules for religious facilities is still under discussion. Currently, religious facilities can accommodate 100% capacity with quarantine pass application, and 50% capacity including unvaccinated individuals. Controller Lee Ki-il stated, "We are considering strengthening quarantine measures for religious facilities as well," adding, "I understand that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will begin consultations with religious groups today regarding additional discussions."

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