'Restaurants Close at 9 PM · Gathering Limit of 6 People'... Prime Minister Kim: "Supplementary Budget Bill to Be Submitted to the National Assembly Before Seollal" (Update)

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting

Citizens are checking the validity of their quarantine passes at a restaurant in downtown Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] The government has decided to extend the current social distancing measure, which limits operating hours of restaurants and cafes to '9 PM,' for three more weeks until the 6th of next month. However, the restriction on the number of private gathering participants has been eased from the existing 4 people to 'up to 6 people.'

In addition, to support small business owners and self-employed individuals affected by the prolonged quarantine, the government plans to prepare a supplementary budget (supplementary budget bill). The supplementary budget bill is scheduled to be submitted to the National Assembly within this month.

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum chaired the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the morning of the 14th at the Government Seoul Office and stated, "After careful consideration, the government intends to maintain the current social distancing measures for the next three weeks." Regarding the relaxation of the limit to 6 people, he said, "This takes into account the pain caused by the prolonged strengthened quarantine measures."

The government's decision to extend the distancing measures for three more weeks was due to concerns about increased movement around the Lunar New Year holidays at the end of this month. Prime Minister Kim said, "We again request that people refrain from visiting their hometowns and meeting with family and relatives during this Lunar New Year holiday," adding, "We apologize to the public."

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 14th. 2022.1.14 [Photo by Yonhap News]

Along with the extension of distancing measures, the government has formalized the preparation of the supplementary budget bill. Prime Minister Kim said, "The government has decided to prepare the supplementary budget by utilizing available resources such as excess tax revenue to provide stronger support for small business owners and the self-employed," adding, "We will prepare this supplementary budget quickly and submit it to the National Assembly before the Lunar New Year." He further added, "Considering the urgent situation faced by small business owners and the self-employed, we ask for the National Assembly's prompt review and approval."

To respond to the rapidly spreading Omicron variant, the government plans to announce a reorganization plan for the quarantine system on the same day. Prime Minister Kim said, "We have prepared countermeasures focusing on 'speed' and 'efficiency' to handle the formidable transmissibility of Omicron, covering quarantine, medical response, and maintenance of essential social functions," adding, "We will strive to implement the reorganization plan as soon as possible to establish a thorough preparedness system." Related improvements to be announced include ▲rationalizing penalties for businesses violating the quarantine pass, ▲expanding criteria for vaccine exemption recognition, and ▲strengthening support for adverse reactions to vaccination in adolescents.

Regarding the recent COVID-19 confirmed cases situation, Prime Minister Kim said, "The quarantine indicators are somewhat improving," but expressed concern, "The number of confirmed cases is no longer decreasing, and especially since last week, the spread of the Omicron variant has accelerated, bringing us close to it becoming the dominant strain." He added, "Some are optimistic, interpreting Omicron as a 'signal of the pandemic's end,' but even that scenario is only possible after enduring a painful large-scale outbreak," emphasizing, "In many countries, the explosive spread of Omicron has pushed medical systems to the brink of collapse and caused disruptions in essential social functions. Under no circumstances should we allow such a situation to occur."

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