The government is considering revising existing social distancing rules to allow people to eat and drink inside cafes. 

Government officials on Friday held a meeting with health experts and civic group representatives to discuss new distancing measures ahead of a Saturday morning announcement that will apply from Monday.  

The new scheme is largely expected to be an extension of current major rules. But according to some participants of the meeting, it will likely come with partial easing of business-facing guidelines. 

For several weeks, cafes in the greater Seoul area and elsewhere were only allowed to open for takeouts and deliveries. But discussions were underway to allow eating within cafes until 9 p.m., in line with existing guidelines on restaurants. 

Distancing rules would still be enforced, allowing only one customer to occupy every eight square meters. 

Indoor sports facilities including fitness centers that were effectively banned from opening for six weeks will also likely be allowed to reopen, albeit at a limited capacity. 

On Saturday, the government also plans to announce special quarantine measures for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.