The government on Jan. 18 allowed coffee shops in the Seoul metropolitan area to allow customers to dine in again. (Yonhap News)

By Sarah Oqelee and Lee Hana

Coffee shops in the Seoul metropolitan area can have customers dine in again, and indoor gyms and noraebang (karaoke box) can resume operations but on a limited basis. 

These measures were announced on Jan. 18 as the third wave of COVID-19 showed signs of a slowdown. 

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Jan. 17 said the capital area will continue to enforce Level 2.5, the second-highest alert level under the government's five-tier system, and the rest of the nation will remain at Level 2 through Jan. 31. The ban on private gatherings of five or more people was also extended. 

Quarantine measures that prevented certain multi-purpose facilities from operating, however, were relaxed.

The previous rule of coffee shops allowing only take-out and delivery was lifted, with customers allowed to dine in until 9 p.m., a regulation similar to that governing restaurants. 

Indoor gyms and noraebang in the capital had their operating bans lifted, but each person must maintain a distance of 8 square m. 

Religious services are allowed but with mask wearing and social distancing measures applied, with seating capacity capped at 10% in the capital area and 20% in the rest of the country. 

Private education academies must also adhere to the maximum capacity of one person per 8 square m rather than the previous measure of nine students per teaching time slot. 

sarahoqelee@korea.kr