Firms in South Korea begin gradual return to office

Workers in South Korea are gradually returning to the office as companies roll back remote working arrangements, in line with the looser restrictions set by the government. 

Up to 10 people in South Korea are now allowed to gather indoors, and establishments like cafes and restaurants would also be able to operate until midnight. 

Steel giant Posco has ended its remote working policy in Seoul, allowing workers to go back to the office, but exempting immunocompromised workers, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions from the rules.

The company has also put in place flexible working hours to minimise crowding in the office. 

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Other big companies that are mulling a gradual return to the office include Samsung Electronics, which removed a requirement for workers to first fill in an online health form before entering the office.

Car makers Hyundai and Kia have also relaxed their policies on domestic business trips, trainings and meetings, removing the requirement that business travellers have to be vaccinated.