hankyoreh

Homigot Sunrise Square in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, a popular spot for viewing the first sunrise of the year, on Dec. 22. (Yonhap News)

Ahead of the holidays, the South Korean government has announced additional COVID-19 prevention measures. A ban on gatherings of five or more people at restaurants, formerly restricted to Greater Seoul, now applies nationwide. Reservations at hotels and other hospitality establishments are to be restricted to 50% or less of capacity, and popular destinations to view the first sunrise of the year will be shut down.

The measures aim to reduce the risk of transmission during Christmas and New Year’s, when people typically gather and celebrate in large numbers.

On Dec. 22, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) announced the nationwide implementation of its “year-end special intensified disease control measures,” which will take effect from Dec. 24 to Jan. 3. A ban on gatherings of five or more people at restaurants —previously restricted to the Seoul Capital Area (SCA) — now applies at the national level.

Groups of five or more people are barred from dining at restaurants together, with violations subject to penalties of 3 million won (US$2,710) for operators and up to 100,000 won (US$90) for diners. In the case of establishments other than restaurants, the ban on private gatherings of five or more people will remain a recommendation outside of the SCA, with no penalties or other compulsory enforcement.

To minimize travel during the holidays, more than 60,000 hospitality establishments — hotels, resorts, guesthouses, and bed-and-breakfasts — are required to limit reservations to 50% of capacity. There will also be a limit on the number of guests per room. The government issued a strong advisory against private parties, at home or otherwise. For guests whose reservations are cancelled, refunds are to be provided in accordance with Fair Trade Commission guidelines established last month.

Winter sports establishments such as ski resorts and sledding grounds, where infection clusters have recently emerged, will be shut down. The ban applies to 16 ski resorts, 35 ice rinks, and 128 sledding grounds. People will also be prohibited from accessing sites where people normally gather to view the first sunrise of the year, including Jeongdongjin in Gangneung, Ganjeolgot in Ulsan, Homigot in Pohang, and Namsan Park in Seoul.

Additional measures require religious services to limit capacity to 20 people and cinemas to close at 9 pm. Employees at nursing facilities, mental hospitals, religious establishments, and other facilities that have seen rises in infection clusters will be barred from attending private gatherings.

Speaking at a regular briefing that day, Yoon Tae-ho, head of the disease control team for the Central Disaster Management Headquarters (CDMH), said, “We are aware that these disease control measures will inconvenience many people by restricting their usage of certain facilities and cancelling their hotel reservations, but such sacrifices are unavoidable.”

“We ask that people cancel their holiday travel plans and stay home,” he urged.

The CDSCH also announced that it will make a decision this weekend on whether to upgrade to Level 3 social distancing measures. Its aim is to concentrate disease control measures on places with a high infection risk to curb the current outbreak.

By Seon Dam-eun, staff reporter

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