As the administrative order for mandatory mask-wearing was implemented as of August 24, 2020, the number of inquiries about detailed guidelines has drastically increased.
As the Seoul Metropolitan Government acknowledges the close relationship between the measure for mandatory mask-wearing and citizens’ daily lives, the SMG is distributing detailed guidelines for immediate application in every aspect of citizens’ everyday lives. The detailed guidelines are comprised of five parts: ▴ the necessity of mandatory mask-wearing, ▴ targets of mandatory mask-wearing, ▴ spatial range of mandatory mask-wearing, ▴ exemptions from mandatory mask-wearing, and ▴ acknowledged types of mask-wearing.
The spatial range of mandatory mask-wearing and exemptions from mandatory mask-wearing should be taken notice of, as these parts contain the detailed criteria about mask-wearing of which citizens want clarification. The spatial range of mandatory mask-wearing specifies that one must wear a mask in every indoor space and ▴ when coming into contact with people at a gathering, meeting, event, or public assembly or ▴ when there is a risk of coming into contact with people as it is difficult to maintain a distance of 2 meters from others outdoors.
Exemptions from mandatory mask-wearing apply to ① when one is in an ordinary, private living space, ② when eating, and ③ when there is an inevitable reason, regardless of being indoors or outdoors.
As the guidelines are being applied for the first time in the country, the SMG expects there will be some shortcomings in the actual application of the guidelines. Thus, the opinions of citizens will actively be accepted to continue improving the guidelines.
Detailed Guidelines for Administrative Order for Mandatory Mask-Wearing
[Overview of Administrative Order]
▶ Target: All residents and visitors throughout Seoul
▶ Content: Wearing masks indoors and outdoors ※ Except for inevitable cases such as when in an ordinary, private living space, eating food, etc.
▶ Period: August 24, 2020 (Mon.) – when the order is lifted
■ Necessity of Mandatory Mask-Wearing
○ Most Effective Way to Protect Oneself and One’s Neighbors
– Risk of being infected decreases by 85% when wearing a mask (source: international academic journal THE LANCET, 2020)
※ 5 times higher possibility of being infected when not wearing a mask
Prevention of additional infections through mask-wearing (source: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
▪ Three individuals who were in the same moving vehicle with a confirmed patient for one hour: All negative
▪ 17 medical workers who came into contact with a confirmed patient who was hospitalized in their hospital for seven days: All negative
▪ Four workers of a cafe in which 28 confirmed cases were generated: All negative
■ Targets of Mandatory Mask-Wearing: All residents and visitors throughout Seoul
○ “Residents of Seoul” refers to individuals who are registered and actually living in an administrative district of Seoul.
When a resident of Seoul visits an administrative district other than Seoul
▪ As the spatial range of the administrative order of mandatory mask-wearing is within Seoul, a resident of Seoul is not the target of mandatory mask-wearing when he/she visits an administrative district outside of Seoul.
○ “Visitors of Seoul” refers to individuals who are registered and actually living in an administrative district outside of Seoul but are currently in Seoul for any purpose including commuting, sales, and travel.
■ Spatial Range of Mandatory Mask-Wearing: Indoor and outdoor spaces located in an administrative district of Seoul
○ (Definition of “indoor space”) Everyone must wear a mask in all structures that are separated from the outdoors in all directions, such as means of transportation including buses, subway trains, ships, airplanes, and other vehicles, as well as buildings.
○ (Definition of “outdoor space”) Everyone must wear a mask in each case listed below.
– When coming into contact with people at a gathering, meeting, event (performance), or public assembly
Definition of “gathering,” “meeting,” “event,” and “public assembly”
▪ (Gathering, meeting, event) A gathering, meeting, or an event that is held by people who come together at the same place for the same purpose according to a predetermined agreement, appointment, or schedule
▪ (Public assembly) An assembly or gathering that is defined by the Assembly and Demonstration Act
– When there is a risk of coming into contact with any person other than those with which one lives (family members) because it is hard to keep a distance of 2 meters
■ Exemptions from Mandatory Mask-Wearing: In ordinary private life and inevitable cases, such as eating
➊ When in an ordinary, private living space
– When in a dwelling (at home)
– When alone in a separate space or with people with which one lives (family members)
※ Everyone must wear a mask when anyone other than those living together visits a separate space
Criteria for mask-wearing when using a vehicle (car)
▪ When alone or together with people with which one lives: Not wearing a mask permitted
▪ When together with any person with which one does not live: Mandatory mask-wearing
➋ When eating ※ One must wear a mask before and after eating, as well as when conversing
– When having a meal or snack
– When having any consumable, such as alcohol, cigarettes, tea, and coffee
➌ Other inevitable cases ※ When it comes to ②-⑤, one must wear a mask before and after activities
① When wearing a mask can lead to dyspnea or deterioration of health
▪ Infants younger than 24 months old
▪ Critical patients
▪ Patients with underlying respiratory diseases who find it difficult to breathe when wearing a mask
② When one must take off the mask for medical or sanitary activities
▪ When medical activities, such as examination, treatment, and administration, are possible only without a mask
▪ When performing personal sanitary activities, such as taking a bath, showering, washing one’s face, and brushing one’s teeth
③ When necessary for the smooth execution of public business
▪ When it is clearly difficult to achieve an objective while wearing a mask a mask during public business of the central or local government or public institution, such as foreign affairs, national defense, investigation, rescue, relief, press releases, etc.
▪ When one must follow a demand for identification by the central or local government or a public institution
▪ When one takes a picture of oneself (ID picture, passport photo, etc.) to submit to the central or local government or a public institution
▪ When a teacher or a lecturer creates an online lecture video following the untact education guidelines from the central and local governments
④ When one must take off the mask for one’s job or earning money
▪ When a professional singer, actor/actress, dubbing artist, broadcaster, model, artist, etc. becomes a main figure of audiovisual materials or a performance
▪ When an athlete participates in a game
▪ When a professional musician of a wind instrument performs on stage
⑤ When it is difficult to wear a mask due to the characteristics of the place
▪ When participating in water activities, such as swimming, etc.
※ One must wear a mask if one has a fever or respiratory symptoms, even when the exemptions from mandatory mask-wearing is applicable
■ Acknowledged Types of Mask-Wearing
○ Types of masks
– All types of masks, including sanitary, surgical, droplet-proof and cotton masks, are permitted
– However, wearing the “quasi-drugs” masks authorized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is strongly recommended
Mask-Wearing Guidelines of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
▪ KF94+ mask: When taking care of a suspected COVID-19 patient
▪ KF80+ mask
– When one has respiratory symptoms, such as cough and sore throat
– When an individual with vulnerable health or underlying diseases comes into contact with other people
* Individual with vulnerable health: Elderly, children, pregnant women, individual with chronic disease
** Individual with underlying diseases: Individual with chronic lung disease, diabetes, chronic renal disease, chronic liver disease, chronic cardiovascular disease, hematologic malignancy, cancer patient receiving chemotherapy, patient taking immunosuppressive
▪ Droplet-proof & surgical masks
– When one must wear a mask for many hours / during the hot summer season / when it is uncomfortable to breathe
○ How to wear a mask
– Wear a mask that matches the size of your face and make sure to cover both your nose and mouth
※ Failure to cover your nose and mouth will be considered as failure to wear a mask
Q&A
Ⅰ. About Mask-wearing
- Wearing a mask at home (at a private place) is not mandatory.
- However, wearing a mask is recommended if a family member has a fever or respiratory symptoms.
- Wearing a mask is not mandatory for infants younger than 24 months old as their respiratory organs are still growing and they may not be able to take off their masks if it becomes difficult to breathe.
- A caregiver should carefully observe an infant that is wearing a mask to prevent infection.
- Exemptions are applied for critical patients whose health can deteriorate if they wear a mask and patients with underlying diseases who could find it difficult to breathe when wearing a mask.
- If there are other cases in which patients find it very inconvenient to wear a mask, exemptions can be applied based on a doctor’s advice.
- Masks may be removed if treatment is only possible without a mask at a dental or ear-nose-and-throat clinic.
- However, a mask must be worn before and after treatment.
- It is okay not to wear a mask for personal sanitation activities, such as taking a bath, showering, washing one’s face, and brushing one’s teeth.
- However, a mask must be worn before and after such activities.
- Exceptions are applied for professional singers, actors/actresses, dubbing artists, broadcasters, models, or artists who perform or become part of the cast for audiovisual material and need to take off their masks for their job or to make money.
- However, they must wear a mask before and after the TV program or performance. Individuals that are not part of the cast, including staff of the broadcasting station, must always wear a mask.
- Exceptions are applied when it is clearly difficult to achieve an objective while wearing a mask a mask during public business of the central or local government or public institution, such as foreign affairs, national defense, investigation, rescue, relief, press releases, etc.
- It is okay not to wear a mask if prompt and precise delivery of information to the public is required. However, one must wear a mask before and after the briefing, as well as the surrounding people concerned.
- Masks must be worn when taking pictures for private purposes. However, masks may be removed for taking pictures of oneself (ID picture, passport photo, etc.) to submit to the central or local government or a public institution.
- Masks may be removed for taking pictures if there are no other people (other than family members) within 2 meters.
- As a case in which one must take off their mask for their job or to make money, exceptions are applied for professional athletes participate in a sports game or competition.
- However, players are checked for fever and respiratory symptoms before starting the game or competition and must wear a mask before and after the game. Other concerned individuals must always wear a mask.
- YouTubers should wear masks. However, they can create videos without a mask if they are filmed at home (private living place) or in a separate place alone without any other people or family members.
- YouTubers can also film videos outdoors without a mask if there are no other people (other than family members) within 2 meters.
- It is recommended to refrain from going to water parks, streams, or rivers where there is a high risk of coming into contact with other people while the measures for social distancing higher than level 2 are in effect.
- It is okay to remove a mask if it is inevitable to do activities in the water, such as swimming. However, masks must be worn before and after water activities.
- Exemptions from mandatory mask-wearing are applied when eating food. As cigarettes are classified as a “favorite food,” smoking is considered to be food consumption and, therefore, masks may be removed when smoking.
- However, quitting smoking is strongly recommended as there is the possibility of transmitting infectious diseases while smoking without a mask and smokers are classified as a high-risk group in relation to COVID-19.
- If it is inevitable to smoke, one must comply with prevention regulations, such as distancing from other people and refraining from conversing.
- If it is difficult to keep a distance of 2 meters from other people (other than family members), a mask must be worn while hiking, walking, or exercising outdoors.
- Masks must be worn unless alone in a separate space, eating food, or doing personal medical or sanitary activities.
- It is okay not to wear a mask if alone or with family members in the office.
- However, a mask must be worn if someone visits the office from outside.
- It is not possible to protect one’s respiratory organs from the virus when covering only the chin or mouth without covering the nose.
- It is not considered wearing a mask if both the nose and mouth are not covered.
- It is okay to remove a mask if it is inevitable to eat consumables at a cafe or a restaurant. However, a mask must be worn before and after eating and when conversing.
- ※ As of August 30, 2020, eating food in a cafe is prohibited according to the reinforced measure of level 2 social distancing.
- It is recommended to keep one’s mask clean if it is taken off for a moment.
- It is strongly recommended to refrain from visiting karaoke rooms during the pandemic as it is classified as a high-risk facility for its characteristics (sealed and crowded).
- ※ As of August 19, 2020, gathering at karaoke rooms is prohibited according to the reinforced measure of level 2 social distancing.
- If it is inevitable, a mask must always be worn, including while singing.
- It is strongly recommended to wear one of the “quasi-drug” masks, such as the medical, surgical, and droplet-proof masks, that are authorized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety after confirming its safety and function to block the droplets.
- However, in consideration of the vulnerable classes who find it difficult to buy masks, recyclable cotton masks can be worn to follow the mandatory mask-wearing regulations.
- Acknowledged types of masks are medical, surgical (dental), droplet-proof, and cotton masks.
- Mesh masks are not acknowledged as their effect of blocking droplets has not been proven so far.
- Everyone who attends a wedding should wear a mask in principle.
- However, following the social distancing guidelines in a wedding hall of the government (Family Culture Division of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family-2544), the bride and the groom may be exempt from wearing masks in the wedding hall.
※ Everyone must wear a mask when taking a group picture. However, the bride and the groom and their parents can remove their masks temporarily when taking photos
Ⅱ. About Administrative Measures
- Article 83 (4) of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, the law that imposes fines on those violate the order, was revised on August 12 and will be enforced starting on October 13.
- As such, before the implementation of the supporting law, fines cannot be imposed but only guidance can be offered.
※ When it comes to public transportation, a preemptive mandatory mask-wearing regulation is in operation (as of May 13). If someone does not wear a mask in the subway, they can face fines starting from KRW 250,000 and going up to KRW 1 million. As for medium-risk facilities, a mandatory mask-wearing regulation is in operation following the limitation of gatherings (as of August 19), and those who violate the measure can face fines of up to KRW 3 million.
- However, even during the guidance period, any disinfection/disease prevention costs, such as testing, investigation, and treatment expenses related to the diagnosis, generated due to the violation of the mandatory mask-wearing regulations will be the responsibility of the perpetrator.
- Social distancing is currently set at level 2. If the situation is adjusted to level 1, the administrative order for mandatory mask-wearing will be removed.
- It is strongly recommended to wear a mask following the disease prevention regulations of the “social distancing in daily life,” even after the mandatory mask-wearing regulation is lifted.
- As visitors of Seoul are included in the range of targets of the administrative order by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, it is the SMG that is the principle agent of administrative action.
- The perpetrator can face fines of up to KRW 100,000 pursuant to Article 83 (4) of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act as it is a violation of Article (1) 2-4 of the same Act. Any disinfection/disease prevention costs, such as testing, investigation, and treatment expenses related to the diagnosis, generated due to the violation of the mandatory mask-wearing regulations will be the responsibility of the perpetrator.
- However, the imposition of fines will be postponed until October 12, 2020. Until then, the regulation is still in the guidance period when crackdown and disposition are suspended. Detailed range and methods of crackdown after the guidance period end will be announced during the guidance period.
※ When it comes to public transportation, a preemptive mandatory mask-wearing regulation is in operation (as of May 13). If someone does not wear a mask in the subway, they can face fines starting from KRW 250,000 and going up to KRW 1 million. As for medium-risk facilities, a mandatory mask-wearing regulation is in operation following the limitation of gatherings (as of August 19), and those who violate the measure can face fines of up to KRW 3 million.
- Currently, the SMG is concentrating its administrative power towards site inspections of facilities with a risk of collective infections, such as high-risk and medium-risk facilities.
- The range of targets of the site inspections will be expanded gradually. Targets and methods of inspection will be announced separately.
- The SMG does not operate a separate channel for reports during the guidance period but will concentrate on promotion and instruction.
- The channels and methods for reporting persons who violate the mandatory mask-wearing regulations will be announced before the end of the guidance period.
- The fines will be imposed on the individual who violates the order.
- However, the company should do its best as the manager of disinfection/prevention to makes efforts to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and comply with the disinfection/prevention regulations.
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