16 Days of Strengthened Social Distancing... Vaccine Non-Recipients Begin 'Home Isolation'

Vaccination history confirmed through the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's COOV (electronic vaccination certificate) mobile app.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Seoyoung] Starting from the 18th, with private gathering sizes limited to 4 people for 16 days, some unvaccinated individuals have expressed discomfort.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that from the 18th, the maximum number of people allowed in private gatherings will be limited to 4. Previously, regardless of vaccination history, up to 6 people could gather in the metropolitan area and up to 8 in non-metropolitan areas, but from this day until January 2 of next year, private gatherings nationwide will be uniformly limited to a maximum of 4 people. Considering the increase in gatherings and movement as well as indoor activities ahead of the year-end and New Year holidays, regulations that had been eased through phased daily recovery are being strengthened.

Accordingly, Group 1, which includes entertainment facilities, colatecs, and dance halls, and Group 2, consisting of restaurants, cafes, singing rooms, bathhouses, and indoor sports facilities, can operate only until 9 PM. Group 3, which includes academies, movie theaters, performance halls, PC rooms, and other groups such as bicycle racing, motorboat racing, horse racing tracks, party rooms, kids cafes, massage and therapy centers, can operate until 10 PM. However, youth entrance exam academies, reading rooms, and study cafes are exempt from operating hour restrictions.

Additionally, the number of attendees allowed at religious activities such as worship services, masses, and Buddhist ceremonies will also be reduced. When only fully vaccinated individuals attend, up to 70% of the seating capacity can be filled, but when unvaccinated individuals are included, only 30% of the seating capacity, up to a maximum of 299 people, can enter. This is a stricter measure compared to the previous rule that allowed up to half the seating capacity regardless of vaccination status and permitted 100% seating capacity if a quarantine pass was applied. Furthermore, small group meetings within religious facilities are limited to 4 people who are fully vaccinated.

Medical staff are receiving the additional dose (booster shot) of the COVID-19 vaccine at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

However, unvaccinated individuals have voiced discomfort over the government's strengthened quarantine measures. Since unvaccinated people will not be able to participate in private gatherings at multi-use facilities such as restaurants and cafes for the next two weeks, they are effectively limited to eating alone. Unvaccinated individuals can be exempted if they undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and submit a negative certificate, but this only applies if the test was taken within 48 hours prior to the gathering.

Some restaurants have sparked controversy by refusing entry to unvaccinated people regardless of whether they are accompanied or not. While some view this as an unavoidable choice from the perspective of self-employed business owners hit hard by operating restrictions, there are concerns that even those who cannot be vaccinated due to underlying health conditions are being unfairly targeted. However, health authorities have stated that it is difficult for them to enforce entry permissions if individual businesses prohibit unvaccinated individuals based on their own operational guidelines.

Meanwhile, a petition titled "Strongly Oppose the Quarantine Pass (Vaccination Certificate/Negative Test Confirmation) Once Again," posted on the Blue House National Petition Board on the 25th of last month, had garnered over 370,000 signatures as of the 17th. Additionally, on the 10th, the Student Parents' Human Rights Protection Coalition filed an administrative lawsuit with the court and requested a constitutional review at the Constitutional Court, arguing that the introduction of the quarantine pass targeting minors violates the constitution.

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