수도권 사회적 거리 두기 2단계 첫날... 아직 붐비는 출퇴근 시간, 발걸음 없는 상권
Our starting point tonight: day one of tighter Covid-19 measures for the greater capital area as the level has been raised to the third highest on the five-tier scheme.
Now, that means, bars and clubs are shut and various limits are in place for other venues.
Our very own Kim Do-yeon is live at one of the most hustling areas of the city.
Doyeon, South Korea reported 349 new cases of COVID-19 today... how are things.... how are people faring under the new rules, there?
Conn-young, I'm standing right by Gangnam Station one of the busiest areas of Seoul.
This area has a mix of everything a city can offer, so it's normally busy at all times of the day and night,... but as you can see,... not so much today.
It's the evening rush hour right now, so it's bustling on the main street a block away where you can take the bus or subway, but on the small streets like this one, where people usually come after work to meet friends for dinner and drinks, you can see significantly fewer people.
I asked some people in the area how they feel about the situation.
"As a citizen, I should abide by the government's measures. We can handle some discomfort for a while."
While beating COVID-19 is the main objective, there are restaurant owners and employees like this man who depend on people eating out.
"I've been here for 10 years now, and Gangnam never succumbed to any problems and has stayed busy, but with COVID-19, it collapsed all at once."
Do-yeon, no doubt it'll be tough for everyone in the next two weeks.
Now, tell us specifically what will happen for the two weeks at least when level 2 is in effect.
Under the level 2 measures, five-types of nightlife venues like bars and clubs have to close.
Singing rooms... can only operate until 9 PM.
Restaurants can let customers dine in until 9, but can only do take-out and delivery after that.
Cafes can only offer take-out and delivery services regardless of the time of day.
Wedding and funeral venues will be limited to 100 people.
And religious facilities... will have to operate at 20 percent capacity.
Theaters and concert halls are required to seat audience members apart from one another, and eating is not allowed.
Also, gyms and other indoor sports facilities have to close at 9.
If a place breaks the rules just once, they could get a fine of up to around 3 million Korean won, or around 2-thousand 7-hundred U.S. dollars.
On top of this, from 10 PM everyday, the "standstill for 10 million Seoulites," has public transportation running at 80 percent of its normal frequency, so if you're out at that hour for an essential reason, please keep that in mind on your way home.
Back to you, Conn-young.
