The government has partially eased business restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in consideration of the economic difficulties resulting from prolonged social distancing measures.

In a Saturday briefing, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that the current 9 p.m. limit will be extended to 10 p.m. for some businesses outside the wider metropolitan area.

The current Level 2.5 social distancing for the greater Seoul area and Level 2 for the rest of the country will still be in place through February 14.  

The change will take effect Monday, affecting restaurants, coffee shops, indoor sports facilities and karaoke singing rooms.  

But the southern city of Gwangju has decided to continue to observe its own stringent guidelines and separately decide whether to ease restrictions. Other local governments can also make their own decision on whether to keep or extend restrictions.

The 9 p.m. business restriction will remain in the capital region as authorities believe the risk of cluster infections still persists in the metro area, where 70 percent of daily cases are concentrated.

Average daily cases tallied in the rest of the country have dipped below 100, but the figure is still in the mid-200s in the metro area for the third week.

While stressing the need for discretion from business operators and customers, the government also said it would sternly respond to all quarantine violations. 

The existing ban on personal gatherings of five or more people will continue nationwide through the Lunar New Year holiday next week.

A no-assembly order on six types of entertainment establishments including certain types of pubs and bars will also be maintained.