Gyms in and around Seoul, South Korea, are limiting music to 120 BPM, The Korea Herald reports. The Greater Seoul area is currently in the top tier of a four-level restriction system, as it faces another wave of Covid-19 cases.
The government’s plan to contain the spread includes restricting the amount of respiratory droplets emitted by sweating in gyms through banning high-speed music for exercise classes and limiting the speed of treadmills to 6 KM p/h. Showering in gyms is also prohibited. The new rule means tracks like PSY’s “Gangnam Style” (132 BPM) isn’t allowed, though Shubostar’s new single, “Hypernova,” would be allowed (115 BPM). Following a recent spike in cases, which has brought South Korea over 1,000 new infections daily for the last week, Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province are also reinstating their strictest social distancing measures and curfews. The rules have been in place since Monday, July 12th, and will remain for two weeks. Faust nightclub in Seoul remains closed due to constantly changing rules, while vurt. is open with restricted opening hours and social distancing in place. The 120 BPM rule does not apply in clubs.