South Korea will now allow offline music concerts up to 4,000 people
South Korea has lifted its venue capacity restrictions on concert halls and will now accommodate up to 4,000 people starting June 14.
The country’s Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced this plan in a regular briefing last June 11, as demands for these venues are expected to increase due to the upcoming summer holiday season.
Outdoor stadiums such as soccer fields and baseball fields will now also allow 50% capacity in non-metropolitan areas, and 30% capacity in metropolitan areas such as Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Daegu, and Jeju.
Currently, outdoor stadiums in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas are at 10-30% maximum capacities, respectively. Meanwhile, popular music venues are only allowing less than 100 people inside.
Social distancing protocols, such as wearing masks at all times and keeping a one-meter distance between each other must still be followed. Food inside the concert halls and stadiums are also prohibited, as well as screaming, cheering, standing and moving away from one’s designated seats.
Since the pandemic, online concerts and festivals have become the new normal experience. However, with around 12.1 million South Koreans or 19% of the population having already received at least one dose of coronavirus vaccines as of Wednesday, June 9, it looks like the country is ready for more in-person interactions between Korean fans and their idols like before.
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