Private Gatherings Increased from 4 to 6 People · 'Business Hours Maintained at 9 PM'... 3-Week Implementation Expected

After the Social Distancing Adjustment Plan Decision on the 14th, 'Supplementary Budget Officialization' Expected

On the first day the quarantine pass validity period applies, during lunchtime on the 3rd, citizens are checking the validity status of their quarantine passes at a restaurant in downtown Seoul. Starting today, if the validity period expires, it will be difficult to use multi-use facilities such as art galleries, karaoke rooms, and movie theaters. In this case, unless a negative PCR test certificate is submitted, a third vaccination must be received for the quarantine pass to be valid. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The government is expected to increase the limit on private gatherings from the current 4 people to 6 people for three weeks starting from the 17th. However, it has decided to apply a social distancing adjustment plan that maintains the operating hours of restaurants and cafes until 9 PM.

According to the government on the 13th, the quarantine authorities held a quarantine strategy meeting in the afternoon to discuss this social distancing adjustment plan.

During the meeting, opinions were confirmed including ▲maintaining the current social distancing of '4 people, 9 PM' ▲lifting the limit on the number of people ▲lifting the operating hour restrictions. Additionally, there was also a proposal to lift the private gathering limit only during the Lunar New Year holiday period.

They decided to ease the limit on the number of people but maintain the operating hour restrictions. The government basically judges that the spread of the Omicron variant is serious, but since the strengthened social distancing has been in place for a month and public backlash has increased, it seems they decided to partially ease the measures.

Regarding the application period of the new social distancing, it was set for three weeks considering the Lunar New Year holiday, which lasts for five days starting from the 29th.

Meanwhile, the government is expected to formalize the social distancing adjustment plan decision and announce additional support measures for small business owners along with the supplementary budget at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the 14th.

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