Category: Seoul

It didn’t take long to get this order targeting foreigners rescinded:

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Friday withdrew its controversial administrative order forcing all foreign workers in the capital region to undergo COVID-19 testing, after having faced mounting criticism over alleged discrimination and violations of foreign residents’ human rights. 

The city said its order, issued on Wednesday, was changed to an “advisory” for foreign workers to receive a test by the end of the month if their workplaces have a high risk of infection.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

If you thought the traffic in central Seoul was bad enough, well it has recently gotten even worse:

Seoul City has started construction to widen Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul by turning part of an adjacent thoroughfare into a pedestrian-only space.

The capital’s most ambitious renovation project began on March 6, aiming to expand the square, which has been criticized for being pedestrian-unfriendly by sitting in the middle of the busy Sejong-daero thoroughfare.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link, but this all the more reason to use the subway in Seoul.

Considering how packed Seoul always seems it is hard to believe it is going through a population decline:

 Seoul’s population has fallen below 10 million for the first time in over 30 years, the city government said Wednesday. 

The total number of inhabitants in the capital stood at 9,911,088 at the end of last year, with 9,668,465 citizens and 242,623 foreign nationals, the local government said, citing data from the ministries of interior and justice. 

This marks the first time Seoul’s population has sunk below 10 million since it crossed the threshold in 1988.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

I guess we will see if this helps to slow the spread of COVID:

Gatherings of five people or more will be banned in the greater Seoul area in an effort to curb the ongoing spread of COVID-19 which has been showing no signs of abating.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government and neighboring local governments in Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, Monday, the stricter social distancing measure will take effect from Wednesday and last until to Jan. 3, the period when many Christmas and year-end gatherings and events are expected to take place.

The ban on gatherings of more than four people is a stronger measure than restrictions that could be applied under the highest Level 3 social distancing, in which gatherings of 10 or more people are prohibited.

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.

Here is the latest restrictions going into place in Seoul to combat the spread of COVID-19:

The Seoul city government said Friday that stores, movie theaters and multiple other facilities must close after 9 p.m. for two weeks starting this weekend to help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Acting Seoul Mayor Seo Jeong-hyup announced the new restriction during a virtual press briefing, saying the measure will go into force Saturday amid worries over spiking cases in the capital recently. (……..)

Businesses subject to the new restriction include stores, movie theaters, internet cafes, game arcades, private academies, study halls, amusement parks, beauty salons, barber shops, large grocery stores and department stores. They can reopen at 5 a.m.

Exceptions will be made for small grocery stores and other shops that are less than 300 square meters in size and for restaurants offering takeout and delivery.

Buses and subways will run on a 30 percent reduced schedule after 9 p.m. The restriction will apply to buses starting Saturday and to subways starting Tuesday.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

Here we go again with tougher restrictions on gatherings and businesses in Seoul:

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced Monday it was instituting its own emergency measures to curtail an alarming spread of Covid-19 in recent weeks, including cutting back on late-night public transportation.  

To enforce the central government’s Level 2 social distancing recommendation across the greater Seoul area announced a day earlier, the capital city will be cutting down on the bus and train services after 10 p.m. by 20 percent, said Acting Seoul Mayor Seo Jung-hyup in an online briefing.  

The measures will be enforced on buses starting Tuesday, while subway operation hours will be reduced starting Friday after public announcements are made.  

All public rallies of 10 or more people will be banned starting Tuesday midnight until further notice, the city announced.  

“Due to the high chain infection risks posed by Seoul’s endemic high population density and heavy foot traffic, we have resolved to put in place pre-emptive measures comparable to Level 3 social distancing,” Seo said.  

Should these measures fail to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the near term, the city plans to stop subways at 11 p.m. Subway times were shortened in April, to midnight from 1 a.m.  

Seoul officials said they plan special measures to ensure the safety of the upcoming national university entrance exam, which takes place on Dec. 3.  

Seo urged churches and other religious institutions across the city to carry services online and prevent large gatherings. That recommendation was a step up from Level 2 social distancing measures, which require reducing the number of people at services by 20 percent.  

At Level 2 social distancing — the third highest level of the government’s five-tier system — any event involving 100 people or more will be prohibited, while nightclubs and bars that allow dancing will be forced to shut down. Restaurants won’t be allowed to serve customers after 9 p.m., but takeout will be allowed. Cafes can operate normal hours but only serve takeout.  

Joong Ang Ilbo

You can read more at the link, but I feel bad for the small business owners trying to deal with the ever changing restrictions. This pandemic is going to wipeout so many of them by the time it is over.

With the redevelopment going on now this closes the square at least in the near term to anti-government protests:

The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s grand project to expand and beautify Gwanghwamun Square commenced Monday, as the Korean capital vowed to increase pedestrian traffic and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  
   
Acting Seoul Mayor Seo Jung-hyup said in an online press briefing at City Hall that the Seoul Metropolitan Government was finally kicking off the project after years of planning and discussing with the public, saying his office was determined to swap the “greyness” of Gwanghwamun Square in downtown Seoul with a “green and ecological” space.  
   
The Gwanghwamun project was a core pillar of the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon’s green initiative to redesign the central Seoul area so that people can move about more easily on foot rather than relying on cars and polluting the environment.  
   
The city will essentially work toward converting all six lanes west of Gwanghwamun Square into a large park.  
   
On the east side of the square in front of the U.S. Embassy, where there are currently six lanes, the city will add one to three more lanes. 

Joong Ang Ilbo

It will be interesting to see how strictly this is enforced. If it is enforced like traffic violations that means there will not be much enforcement:

The Seoul metropolitan government will begin imposing fines of 100,000 won (US$88) on those who do not wear face masks in public next week, a measure aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

Enforcement of mandatory mask wearing will begin Nov. 13 after a one-month trial period, officials said.

Exceptions will be made for children under the age of 14, the disabled and those diagnosed with a medical condition that makes it difficult for them to breathe through a mask.

Yonhap

The mask ordnance even applies in restaurants and bars:

Of the multiuse facilities, the rule will apply to not only bars, karaoke rooms and buffet restaurants that are limited-entry establishments under the government’s Level 1 social distancing guidelines, but also 16 “medium-risk” facilities including private academies, arcades, houses of worship and indoor wedding halls.

I am not sure how you eat and drink with a mask on so it seems this will be difficult to enforce in these establishments. This mask ordnance will probably be much to do about nothing.