"Considering the rapid spread of COVID-19, we have to cancel the year-end bell-ringing ceremony," the official of Seoul's government said as quoted by the Yonhap news agency reported.

The annual ceremony, which takes place at Bosingak Pavilion, will be canceled for the first time since it was established in 1953, after the end of the Korean War.
The media added that additional restrictions were planned to be implemented in the city to prevent public gatherings.

On Friday, the Seoul authorities reduced bus and subway services by 30 percent after 09:00 p.m. (12:00 GMT) to contain the spread of COVID-19.

South Korea has confirmed 631 new coronavirus cases over the past 24 hours, up from the 583 new infections on Saturday, with total count reaching 37,546, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.