(LEAD) USFK under fire over no-mask dance party amid virus resurgence

All News 11:19 December 08, 2020

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By Choi Soo-hyang

SEOUL, Dec. 8 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is facing criticism over a dance party held at one of its bases last week at which participants did not wear face masks amid South Korea's heightened social distancing scheme to stem the resurgence of new coronavirus cases.

The party took place at Flightline Tap Room at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, on Friday, with dozens of people dancing side by side without wearing masks, according to officials.

On the same day, South Korea's daily number of new COVID-19 cases reached a near nine-month high of 629, with authorities urging citizens to cancel non-vital face-to-face gatherings.

The Seoul government has requested the U.S. military to follow antivirus measures. The U.S. military said Monday that the bar was "closed effective immediately, per command directive."

"The facility has been closed, and we are looking into the matter," a USFK official said.

Under the USFK antivirus rules currently in place, its members are ordered to keep a minimum 1 meter of social distance and to wear masks when such separation is impossible. It also orders its personnel to avoid large crowds and to follow all South Korean rules, directives and laws.

When the party took place, the Seoul metropolitan area was put under social distancing Level 2 -- the third-highest among the country's five-tier virus alert system -- with indoor exercises practiced by groups and year-end parties hosted by hotels banned.

USFK also came under fire in July over its soldiers' unruly Fourth of July celebrations after dozens of complaints were filed in the southeastern city of Busan over wild and dangerous acts by foreigners wearing no face masks.

Following the incident, the U.S. military expressed regret and vowed to take appropriate disciplinary action against those involved.

As of Monday, 408 USFK-affiliated individuals have tested positive for the new virus.

South Korea reported 594 new infections Tuesday, raising the total caseload to 38,755.