S. Korean baseball fans violate COVID prevention rules by screaming, chanting at ballpark

Many fans at Seoul's Jamsil Baseball Stadium where the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) wild card game was held on Tuesday were found to have violated disease prevention rules by shouting and chanting.

According to the government’s newly eased disease prevention guidelines, shouting or loudly chanting while watching the game are prohibited to prevent infection through droplets.

Nonetheless, the spectators are allowed to enjoy fried chicken and beer at baseball stadiums.

Son Young-rae, head of the social strategy team at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, emphasized that even if fans are wearing masks, shouting or screaming increases the number of saliva droplets, thereby reducing the mask's effectiveness.

Under the first stage of South Korea’s three-phase “With Corona” strategy, concerts venues will also be allowed to host up to 500 vaccinated spectators.

However, screaming or singing along en masse will be prohibited at concert halls.