South Korea's social distancing rules to remain in place until the end of January From CNN’s Jake Kwon in Seoul A woman wearing a face mask walks near a park, which is taped off to comply with social distancing measures in Seoul, South Korea on January 14. Lee Jin-man/AP South Korea is extending its social distancing rules by 2 weeks until January 31, the country's Health Ministry said in a news release Saturday. A ban on gatherings of five or more people will also remain in place until the end of January, the ministry added. Seoul Metropolitan Area has been under social distancing level 2.5, the second-highest level, since early December, while the rest of the country has been on level 2, the third-highest level.