South Korea to Ease Coastal Area Curfew

The South Korean government will lift a Korean War-era curfew from most coastal areas on Jan. 1 and allow residents to fish at night, the Interior Ministry said this week. The midnight-to-4 a.m. curfew will remain in force in nine countries and 13 islands close to the demilitarized zone between South and North Korea.

All South Koreans lived under the curfew from the time of the 1950-53 Korean War until early 1982 when restrictions were lifted for most of the country. The curfew remained in force for coastal and border areas deemed vulnerable to North Korean infiltration.