The lifting of the vaccine pass system of presenting vaccination verification or a negative result of a COVID-19 test took effect on Jan. 18 at six types of multi-use facilities such as department stores and large supermarkets. The photo shows a staff member at Lotte Department Store in Daejeon on Jan. 17 removing signs on the pass in front of the entrance. (Yonhap News)

By Xu Aiying and Yoon Sojung

The country on Jan. 18 lifted the vaccine pass rule of requiring verification of vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative PCR test result when entering a department store, large supermarket, private education institute (hagwon) or library across the country.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on Jan. 17 in a meeting decided to lift the rule for six types of multi-use facilities.

The six are study rooms and cafes; libraries; museums, art galleries and science museums; department stores and large supermarkets; private education institutes; and movie theaters and concert halls.

The decision to lift the vaccine pass at these facilities was made considering lower risk from people wearing masks at all times and production of droplets. People at such facilities, however, cannot eat or drink inside there.

The vaccine pass remains in effect at 11 other types of facilities such as those for entertainment and indoor sports, noraebang (karaoke rooms), public saunas, restaurants and cafes.

The headquarters said in a news release, "We decided to ease the vaccine pass at lower-risk facilities to reflect the situation in which the number of COVID-19 infections has fallen and medical capacity has increased."

"The adjustment of the vaccine pass is a temporary, not permanent, measure subject to adjustment according to the pandemic situation, and can be modified if the quarantine situation worsens."

xuaiy@korea.kr