An association of pilates studios and fitness centers has urged the government to help indoor sports facilities suffering due to COVID-19-related closures. 

The association issued the call on Tuesday in a news conference in front of the headquarters of the ruling Democratic Party in Seoul. 

The association said operators of indoor sports facilities have continuously followed the government’s quarantine rules since the pandemic started. The association took issue with the government repeatedly subjecting such sports centers to assembly bans while exempting businesses that defied previous shutdown orders. 

The group called on the government to come up with fair and effective quarantine measures for indoors sports facilities, claiming it is being particularly harsh on them and demanding unilateral sacrifices. 

Indoor sports facilities have been closed for nearly a month since the social distancing level for the greater Seoul area was upgraded to Level Two-point-Five on December 8. The government has extended the current social distancing level for two more weeks until January 17.

The association’s news conference came a few hours after Health Ministry spokesperson Son Young-rae said it is difficult to directly compare businesses that have been excluded from the assembly ban with businesses that are subject to it.