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A COVID-19 screening center. (Yonhap News)

South Korea will ban gatherings of five or more people in the Seoul Capital Area (SCA) starting Dec. 23. The ban is expected to last until Jan. 3, 2021.

The cities of Seoul and Incheon and Gyeonggi Province announced this joint measure on Dec. 21. The aim is to curb celebrations around Christmas and New Year’s amid the country’s third wave of COVID-19.

The ban applies to both indoor and outdoor gatherings. Any type of holiday celebration or gathering among friends and colleagues that exceeds four people is prohibited. Exceptions will be granted for certain ceremonies such as weddings and funerals, which will be limited to 50 persons or less. Business and individuals that violate the ban will be fined and face other “strict measures.”

“If we don’t stop the explosive spread we’re seeing, Seoul will begin to resemble cities under lockdown like London and New York, where the streets are completely empty,” said acting Seoul Mayor Seo Jung-hyup. “The current spread cannot be stopped if we don’t prevent transmissions among family members, acquaintances and colleagues. We urgently request that all citizens partake in the country’s disease control efforts as if they were on the front lines,” he added.

“Speed is the most important factor in the fight against COVID-19,” said Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-Myung. “Even the slightest hesitation can waste precious time and let things spiral out of control. We ask for people’s understanding as strict emergency measures are essential to prevent further loss and damage,” he stressed.

By Lee Jung-ha, Incheon correspondent, and Park Tae-woo, staff reporter

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