Unvaccinated Against COVID-19 Cannot Enter Department Stores or Marts Over 3000㎡ (Update)

On the 24th, a day before Christmas, citizens in Myeongdong, Seoul, are looking at the Shinsegae Department Store main branch decorated for Christmas. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] Unvaccinated individuals will not be allowed to use department stores and large supermarkets of a certain size or larger starting January 10 next year.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters stated in a COVID-19 briefing on the 31st, "For restaurants and cafes, which are essential facilities, unvaccinated individuals were allowed to use them if only one person was present, but department stores and supermarkets over 3,000㎡ newly included in the quarantine pass target cannot be used."

The government expanded the application of the quarantine pass to department stores and supermarkets through adjustments to social distancing measures on the same day.

However, the Central Disease Control Headquarters added, "Not all facilities such as department stores and supermarkets are subject to this, only those with a size of 3,000㎡ or more are applicable," and "According to statistics from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, about 2,000 supermarkets fall under this category."

The government plans to implement the quarantine pass for department stores and supermarkets starting January 10 next year, but to minimize confusion on site, a one-week guidance period (January 10?16) will be provided.

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