Speeds and decibels fall in South Korea: Slow music and speed limit in gyms

Many athletes in gyms rely on a good tune to be able to perform in training, but in South Korea their music choices are significantly limited, according to the new protection rules from Covid-19.

In addition to known restrictions, such as social distance and travel control, South Korea has added the requirement that gyms do not play music at a rate of more than 120 beats per minute (bpm) during group exercises such as aerobics and spinning.

Health ministry officials say the measure is aimed at preventing rapid breathing or sweating, while avoiding the closure of gyms.

The rule has been ridiculed by some opposition policymakers who have spoken of “nonsense” and gym owners see the measure as ineffective or unrealistic to follow.

For Kang Hyun-ku, a gym owner in North Seoul, fast-paced funky K-pop songs on his playlist were his morning routine.

“Live music is played to encourage our members and lift the general mood, but my biggest question is whether classical music or BTS songs have been shown to have an impact on the spread of the virus,” Kang said.

“Many people use their own headphones and mobile devices these days, and how are their playlists controlled?” noted, according to Reuters.

The South Korean government has imposed austerity measures in Seoul and surrounding areas since Monday as the country faces a new rise in SARS-CoV-2 cases, the largest since the outbreak of the new coronavirus.

The rules also stipulate that the speed on the treadmill in gyms should not exceed 6 kilometers per hour and the use of showers is prohibited.