SEOUL, June 11 – The capacity to host outdoor sporting events across South Korea will increase from Monday as national health authorities lift restrictions related to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) before introducing Revamped social distancing guidelines.
The Central HQ for Disasters and Security Countermeasures announced on Friday that regions at level 1.5 of distancing in the five-level scheme would be allowed to accept the public at 50% of stadium capacity, up from the current 30%. . Greater Seoul Area, Southeastern City of Daegu, and Jeju Resort Island, all below Level 2, will be able to have sports fans at 30% capacity starting Monday. , instead of the current 10%.
South Korea will unveil a set of new distancing rules in July, in line with the vaccination rate accelerating. The government moved forward today with relaxing some of the restrictions in place at outdoor sports venues, on the grounds that the risk of infection there is relatively low compared to indoor facilities.
Two professional sports, baseball and football, remain active during the summer months. In the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), six clubs are based in cities rated at level 2 and the rest at level 1.5.
Doosan Bears and LG Twins in Seoul, SSG Landers in Incheon, KT Wiz in Suwon, and Samsung Lions in Daegu will drop from 10% to 30%.
The Kiwoom Heroes are also based in Seoul, but they play in the only indoor venue in the league, the Gocheok Sky Dome. The capacity will only be increased to 20%, the KBO said moments after the government’s announcement.
KBO welcomed the decision to increase seating capacity and is committed to ensuring safe environments for fans.
Mondays are statutory holidays without professional baseball games, so the new rule will come into effect on Tuesday.
Fans attend a Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) regular season game between the home team LG Twins and NC Dinos at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on June 10, 2021.
In K League 1 football, six of the twelve clubs are below level 2 and the other six are below level 1.5.
In the Premier League, FC Seoul, Incheon United, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Suwon FC, Seongnam FC, Daegu FC and Jeju United will drop from 10% to 30% in their stadiums. Ulsan Hyundai FC, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Pohang Steelers, Gangwon FC and Gwangju FC will be able to play in front of half-full stands.
The K League is in the midst of an international break, with the senior national team and the national Olympic Under-24 team both playing multiple games this month. But FC Seoul and Seongnam FC, four of which were postponed earlier this year due to a Covid-19 case, will play matches on June 19 and 20.
A K League official has said clubs are well prepared to operate under relaxed rules, having already experienced gauge swings last season.
Following discussions with national health officials, the KBO relaxed parts of its league-wide health and safety protocols earlier this month, allowing up to four fans to attend. sit together if they are attending group games.
The baseball league has also called on the government to lift other restrictions, such as the ban on eating and drinking in the stands and vocal cheering.
(Yonhap)
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