From the 25th, Eating and Drinking Allowed in Movie Theaters and KTX... Prohibited on Village and City Buses

Eating Allowed on Subway, Domestic Flights, and Intercity Buses
Not Allowed on City Buses Due to Crowding and Standing Risks

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Starting from the 25th, eating and drinking will be allowed in multi-use facilities such as movie theaters and indoor sports venues, as well as on public transportation.

On the 22nd, Park Hyang, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, stated, "The government has prepared quarantine management measures in consultation with related industries and organizations to ensure that eating can take place safely in major facilities." Until now, quarantine authorities have prohibited the consumption of food other than water and non-alcoholic beverages in indoor multi-use facilities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

According to government policy, the ban on eating and drinking, which had been applied to ▲ singing (coin) practice rooms ▲ indoor sports facilities ▲ bathhouses ▲ bicycle racing, motorboat racing, horse racing, domestic casinos ▲ movie theaters and performance halls ▲ multi-rooms ▲ indoor sports viewing venues ▲ museums, art galleries, science centers ▲ libraries ▲ massage and therapy shops ▲ stores, marts, department stores ▲ arcades ▲ exhibitions and fairs ▲ beauty salons ▲ academies ▲ reading rooms and study cafes ▲ religious facilities ▲ door-to-door sales promotion centers, and public transportation excluding international flights such as ▲ buses, subways, and taxis, will be lifted at 0:00 AM on Monday the 25th.

The government has established quarantine management plans for each facility where eating is permitted. Movie theaters, indoor performance halls, and indoor sports viewing venues must ventilate after each screening or game session and regularly inspect the sanitation status of concession stands. In particular, Gocheok Dome is expected to operate while maintaining air quality comparable to outdoor conditions.

On public transportation such as trains, domestic flights, intercity, express, and charter buses, it is recommended to consume simple food and beverages quickly. Periodic ventilation must also be implemented. KTX trains should be ventilated for about 4 to 5 minutes at a time, and strong air purification is recommended inside aircraft.

However, eating and drinking inside city and village buses will remain prohibited due to high density and the need for safety management because of standing passengers. Even before COVID-19, some local governments restricted bringing food onto city and village buses.

Eating inside subways, a major public transportation mode, is now allowed. Park explained, "Subways allow indoor eating because safety issues such as sudden stops are less severe compared to city and village buses, and ventilation is possible as doors open at every station."

Tasting and sampling at distribution facilities such as large marts and department stores will also resume. However, distribution facilities must designate and operate special management zones for eating. Additionally, a distance of 3 meters must be maintained between tasting and sampling counters, and at least 1 meter between people tasting simultaneously.

The government urged facility managers and users to work together to comply with basic rules during food consumption indoors, such as washing hands, wearing masks at all times except when eating, refraining from conversation and movement while eating.

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