'PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY TAKES BLOW FROM STRENGTHENED SOCIAL DISTANCING IN PEAK SEASON'

PERFORMING ARTS INDUSTRY TAKES BLOW FROM STRENGTHENED SOCIAL DISTANCING IN PEAK SEASON The year's end is typically a big season for the theater industry, but the COVID-19 pandemic has marred(손상되 었다) this year's mood as the resurgence of infections has seen the tightening of social distancing rules, delivering a blow to theaters. With COVID-19 infections spiking, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency raising the alert level in early December, the Korea Performing Arts Box Office Information System (KOPIS) announced that the number of theatrical tickets sold so far this year was 66,000, approximately one fourth of the corresponding period last year of 1.1 million. The number is likely to drop further as most shows have been halted(중단되었다) for three weeks to comply with (따르다) the government's effort to control the spike in COVID-19 infections. According to the newly imposed five-tier social distancing scheme(거리두기 제도), starting from level 1.5, theaters must leave one seat empty after every two occupied seats to prevent the spread of COVID-19. At level 2, it is one empty seat after one occupied seat and at level 2.5 two empty seats between each occupied seat. At the highest level 3, theaters must go into lockdown as well as(-또 한) most other facilities. Korea's theater industry faced COVID-19 crises in April and August as infections surged. However, this is the first time for most shows to shut down for three weeks, regardless of(에 상관없이) their theater size, despite being the high season. Large scale musicals "Ghost," "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" and "The Count of Monte Cristo" all announced closures through Dec. 28. The highly anticipated production of "Man of La Mancha," which was slated for(-로 예정된) a Dec. 18 opening, postponed this until January. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Korea has been regarded highly for maintaining theatrical performances. Not a single case of infection within theaters has been reported, even though several COVID-19 patients did watch live performances. Epidemiological(유행병학의) investigators notify the visit of COVID-19 case to theaters and audiences on the day, but even those who sat close to the infected person are not classified as(-로 분류되다) close contacts as everybody wears mask and looks ahead without speaking to each other.