Prime Minister Kim, "From Next Week, up to 8 People Can Gather in the Greater Seoul Area and up to 10 People in Other Areas"

[경향신문]

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum presides over a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 at the government office in Seoul on October 15. Yonhap News

On October 15, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced the new distancing measures that will be applied beginning October 18 and said, “Even in areas where level-4 distancing is enforced, private gatherings of up to eight people will be allowed, regardless of whether the time is before or after 6 p.m. In level-3 areas, up to 10 people can gather.”

This day, the prime minister presided over a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on COVID-19 and said, “The government will adjust some of the disease prevention measures after taking into consideration the changing circumstances in order to relieve some of the pain of small business owners and self-employed business owners who are struggling to make ends meet.”

The government decided to ease some disease prevention measures while maintaining the current physical distancing level--level 4 in the Seoul metropolitan area and level 3 in other areas--for two more weeks from October 18 until 31.

Prime Minister Kim said, “The eased restrictions on the number of people, which was only applied to restaurants and cafes until now, will also be applied to all public facilities from next week.”

He further said, “Among the public facilities that have demanded the easing of distancing measures in the past, we will further ease restrictions on business hours for facilities that pose little risk,” and explained that since students preparing for college admissions have the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) coming up in November, the government would allow study cafes and reading rooms located in level-4 areas to stay open until midnight.

The government will also ease disease control measures in businesses and facilities that the government deems is able to manage the risks of contagion in a stable manner.

Kim Boo-kyum announced, “Sports matches in the greater Seoul area, held without spectators, can now allow up to 20% of the people the facility can accommodate indoors and up to 30% outdoors, on condition that the spectators are fully vaccinated.”

As for the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and their announcement to push ahead with a general strike on October 20, the prime minister said, “It can be a dangerous action going against the expectations of the people who desperately want to restore everyday life,” and asked, “I ask the leaders of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions to make the better decision to cancel the strike for the safety of our community.”