AusLeisure

Gyms in South Korea's capital Seoul and its surrounding region have been that they should not play music with a tempo higher than 120 beats per minute (BPM), in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.

With areas of South Korea experiencing a rise in Coronavirus cases, health officials say the restrictions - which also include treadmills being limited to a maximum of 6km/h - will prevent people from breathing too fast or splashing sweat droplets into the air and onto other gym users.

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum warned on Friday that the country had reached "maximum crisis level".

Those attending exercise classes such as Zumba, spin and aerobics in the greater Seoul area will face the 120bpm limit from Monday.

People are also only allowed to spend two hours at a time at indoor sports facilities and must not

However, the move has been questioned by gym owners, with Kang Hyun-ku, who owns a gym in Seoul, asking whether there was any proof a choice between BPM had an impact on spreading the virus.

He also told Reuters many people used their own earphones, asking "how do you control their playlists?"

Industry leaders have repeatedly questioned assertions that gyms are unsafe during the pandemic.

Image courtesy of Zumba.

Related Articles

8th June 2021 - Highlighting safety of gym visits Vic Active says Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has ‘got it wrong’

2nd July 2021 - Xponential Fitness files with US authorities for initial public offering

1st July 2021 - Fitness and Lifestyle Group sign with Airlock Digital to protect against cyber attacks

25th June 2021 - Global survey finds that more than 50% of women harassed while training at the gym

15th June 2021 - Keepme launches new white paper to demystify AI for fitness and wellness sectors

8th June 2021 - ChinaFit and IHRSA reveal strategic partnership

26th May 2021 - New global research highlights role of technology in the fitness industry

26th May 2021 - Les Mills International shares advice on ways clubs can convert digital fitness fans into members

5th May 2021 - Gyms close in Singapore to manage resurgence of COVID-19

31st March 2021 - FIBO 2021 adopts holistic approach to health and wellness

29th March 2021 - Hong Kong gym’s link to COVID-19 cluster shows need for ongoing safety and hygiene commitment

18th March 2021 - A third of global gym members unlikely to return to clubs after COVID vaccine

8th March 2021 - Research suggests face masks are safe to wear during intense exercise

17th February 2021 - Japan’s fitness industry faces up to post-Coronavirus lockdown challenge

1st February 2021 - New report analyses growth of the Chinese fitness industry

21st July 2020 - Technogym’s Nerio Alessandri says ‘gyms are safe’

20th September 2013 - Koreans love CrossFit

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.