Seoul bans speedy songs in gyms to stop sweating

[My Everything]

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

Treadmills will be limited to a maximum of 6km/h (3.7 mph). 

Health officials say the restrictions will prevent people from breathing too fast or splashing sweat on each other.

A quick look at K-pop bpms suggests Blackpink fans might suffer a bit more than followers of BTS.

South Korea is battling a new outbreak of the virus, with 1,100 new cases recorded on Sunday. 

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 use the shower.

All sports facilities must close by 22:00.

The move has been questioned by gym owners.

Kang Hyun-ku, who owns a gym in Seoul, asked whether there was any proof a choice between classical music and BTS had an impact on spreading the virus.

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

But officials say the measures help prevent gyms from closing completely. 

Experts say it is hard to know whether people have been infected at gyms. Figures from the UK last year suggested that they were not a significant hotspot for infections. 

Even moderate aerobic exercise like jogging is better paired with songs around 120-140bpm, while intense workouts like Zumba and CrossFit require even faster music.

So Seoul's new guidelines are good news if you're the sort of person, like me, who hangs out at the back of the class half-heartedly shuffling around and watching the clock.

South Korea's pop chart is forgiving on bpms, with eight of the top 10 passing the tempo test. BTS, the country's biggest musical export, are on safe ground. Their two biggest hits, Butter and Dynamite, sit comfortably in the 110-115 range. 

It's not looking so good for female counterparts Blackpink. All of their biggest singles hover around 130 bpm. Let's hope gym class-related royalties don't account for too much of their income.

Seoul's restrictions on gyms are part of a raft of measures that were introduced in the region on Monday that are set to last for two weeks. 

Gatherings are limited to four, and decrease to two after 18:00. Nightclubs and bars are also required to close and schools will move their classes online.

Source

[Danee Danee]

I get that covid is an issue. Believe me. I'm from country 5times smaller then Korea who peaked at 15k+ positive cases per day. But banning up tempo songs so people will breath less is kinda ridiculous. Seriously.

[WujuLike]

Shouldn't they just ban all indoor gym classes? The risk just from going to one is the problem, not how much you're sweating... if you're in that situation at all it's a risk

[deobizone]

That won't do anything... The gyms need to be operated carefully in regards to sanitizing and amounts of ppl, scheduling etc. Choosing songs on bpm won't make them sweat less most likely, has to do with what they're doing

[himi]

this is actually ridiculous lol

[abra]

It's Davichi's time to shine

[Guest]

So specific tho, at this point is it even worth keeping the indoor gyms open? It also depends on the person, some sweat more and some will breathe more heavily when they exercise, and even if they do ban speedy songs, people are still going to sweat and breathe

[flower.]

idek what I was expecting from this thread but this immediately came to mind:

 

[schue]

Ok this is so dumb. This won't stop the spread of covid. They should just temporarily close down gyms and other places where it's easily prone to the spread of covid. Also how about those exercise machines, how are they gonna tackle that issue? Sanitize them every single time after a person finished using them and before a new person uses them? Nobody got time for that. Gyms have always been a hotbed for the spread of covid especially the new variant Delta which is speculated to be much easier to spread and get even if you keep your social distance. There's so many germs and bacteria circulating in the gym room that came from people's sweat, heavy breathing, steam, etc. especially when the gyms are indoors. Might as well just close down gyms for the time being while waiting for the situation to become safer and better.

[jeong jaehyuns boyfriend]

so people are going to be working out to ballads? LOL... this is just so bizarre

[BABYGIRL.]

but sweating and gym is how people lose weight also... this is the dumbest ban I have EVER read and heard of.

[Lubbin]

Uhmm…. As ridiculous as the whole situation sounds in itself, they do realize people can bring their own music and/or still sweat AT A GYM where you burn calories at, right?

[MinnieMax]

Wonder how it will work if majority use their own playlists while working out.
Will there be a playlist check post or something? 

[Aegyo]

Close them then..why would anyone go to waste their time then lol 

[godblessdelulu]

On 7/13/2021 at 3:49 AM, abra said:

It's Davichi's time to shine

you win the internet today, hands down