World - Asia
Updated: January 20, 2023

South Korea To Drop Indoor Mask Regulations

By Quadri Adejumo
January 20, 2023
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South Korea is officially dropping rules that require people to wear masks in most indoor settings.

From January 30, it will no longer be mandatory to wear facemasks in most indoor spaces, except on public transport and in medical facilities.

The mask mandate has been in place since October 2020 and is one of South Korea's last remaining pandemic-era restrictions, with other rules long dropped.

The country still makes it mandatory for those who get officially diagnosed with COVID-19 to isolate themselves for seven days.

Jee Young-mee, the head of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on Friday; "The adjustments on the mandatory indoor mask mandate will be implemented from Monday, January 30th, after the Lunar New Year holiday.”

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also said the plan was to change the indoor mask mandate from required to recommended.