Gym directors in prison uniforms and meetings … “Is it a crime to operate indoor sports facilities?”

Check-in 2021.01.05 12:01 | Revision 2021.01.05 12:09

“Actually, we are just at the edge of the cliff. The one threatening to fall off the cliff with a muzzle is the government, not the coronavirus.”

As the government’s 2.5-step social distancing measures spanned two weeks and the ban on gatherings at indoor sports facilities was extended, business owners who run gyms and Pilates training centers launched a rally calling for their right to live.

Pilates and Fitness Business Alliance held a rally in front of the Democratic Party in Yeouido, Seoul at 11:30 am on the 5th and called on the government and National Assembly to ▲ withdraw the designation of high-risk facilities ▲ present grounds for commercial bans ▲ actively compensate for damage and ▲ allow limited operations.

The Alliance members who participated in the rally wore veterinary clothing with the words ‘indoor sports facilities’ written on them, and displayed their tied hands while trapped in iron bars, emphasizing their situation of having difficulties due to the ban on meetings.

They said, ‘Is it because our sin is in the indoor sports industry?’ ‘How long does it last?’ Holding a placard upside down, he shouted slogans such as “The government must guarantee the right to life”, “Present policies fairly without discrimination in the industry” and “Eliminate the ban on grouping indoor sports facilities.”

Earlier, the government extended the 2.5 steps of social distancing from the day before to the 17th, another two weeks. However, private academies and outdoor winter sports facilities with 9 or fewer students will resume operation. Indoor sports such as taekwondo and yoga also have limited operation when registered as an academy or teaching center.

For this reason, gym and Pilates owners raised the issue of fairness and fiercely rebelled. In response, the government said: “It has only partially relieved academies that have care functions,” and said: “Please cooperate with measures to ban group indoor sports facilities in the metropolitan area.”

“In the early days of the crown crisis, various workplaces in the indoor sports facility business attempted to contribute to quarantine authorities through voluntary closures without an administrative order from the government,” said Park Joo-hyung, president of the Federation, who attended the rally that day. “Although we knew that the ban was against equity, we followed the government’s guidelines even though we knew that the two-week suspension was financially fatal.”

President Park said: “However, the government applied strict standards only to indoor sports facilities and demanded one-sided sacrifices from the first street trade restriction policy in April of last year. And, as if our sacrifice were natural, we we meet again in the indoor sports facilities business. ”He raised his voice and said,” I have issued an executive ban order. “

He said: “If you want to force the sacrifice, please tell me at least the motives and reasons,” he said. “Without scientific evidence and data, I just thought: ‘If you exercise, your breathing will become more severe, so the spread of the droplets will be more severe.'” If it is a threat to the livelihood of workers in the industry, we will be responsible for that. “

President Park added: “On the first day of the new year, I heard a news report that the director of a gym in Daegu made an extreme decision. I am really afraid that someone from the same industry and one of my colleagues will make the same decision.” .

After the rally, the federation side plans to hold an individual protest in front of the Democratic Party starting at 2 pm.