Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon: "Karaoke Rooms, PC Rooms, and Other Multi-Use Facilities Must Close... Considering Business Ban" (Comprehensive)

65 Confirmed Cases Related to Seoul Guro Call Center... Over 93 Including Gyeonggi and Incheon
2 Shincheonji Member Employees Test Negative... Comprehensive Survey on Private Call Center Working Conditions and Realities

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) related to the Guro call center in Seoul is increasing, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided to conduct a full survey of the working conditions and facility operations of private call centers. The city also urged small multi-use facilities such as academies, PC bangs, and noraebangs to actively cooperate with closures.

On the morning of the 11th, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon held a briefing and stated, "As a result of self-quarantine and a full investigation of 207 employees of the Guro call center, it has been identified that there are currently 93 confirmed cases including employees and their families."

As of 10 a.m. that day, the number of confirmed cases related to call centers in the Seoul area was a total of 65, an increase of 43 from the previous day (22). Among them, 50 were call center employees and 15 were contacts such as family members. The highest number of confirmed cases was in Guro-gu with 13, followed by Gangseo with 10, Yangcheon with 9, Gwanak with 8, Yeongdeungpo with 5, Nowon with 4, Mapo with 4, Dongjak with 3, Eunpyeong with 2, Geumcheon with 2, Songpa with 1, and Jung-gu with 1. Outside Seoul, there were 2 cases in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi-do, and 1 in Bucheon.

In Gyeonggi-do, 13 confirmed cases were identified, and in Incheon, 15 cases. Adding these numbers together, the total number of confirmed cases related to the call center is 93.

Mayor Park said, "We are responding thoroughly and decisively so that this call center cluster infection does not follow the same pattern as the Shincheonji-related cluster infections in Daegu and Gyeongbuk," and added, "We started a full survey of 417 private call centers in Seoul from today."

Mayor Park also said, "The companies operating call centers either directly or by consignment are mostly large corporations, so I believe it is quite possible to secure alternative offices or implement telecommuting," adding, "If that is not possible, the city will invest financial and human resources to make it safer."

The connection between the call center cluster infection and the Shincheonji Church of Jesus is still under investigation. Mayor Park stated, "We have identified two church members who tested negative by cross-checking with the list secured by Seoul City," and added, "Our list is not perfect, and we are cross-checking with lists from other cities and provinces."

In the situation where the cluster infection is spreading nationwide, businesses where close contact is possible, such as noraebangs, PC bangs, clubs, and colatecs, were requested to close.

Mayor Park emphasized, "Students who have nowhere to go due to school delays and academy suspensions are going to noraebangs and PC bangs, but special management is needed now," and said, "We are recommending business suspension for these industries, but depending on the situation, administrative orders to prohibit business are also being considered."

He also revealed plans in preparation for a rapid increase in confirmed cases. Mayor Park explained, "We are securing sufficient step-by-step living treatment facilities for mild patients," and added, "We are continuously securing several places such as the Human Resources Development Institute, English Village, and Taereung Athletes' Village."

Mayor Park said, "President Moon Jae-in also called me directly to express his concerns and said that the central government will support anything necessary," and added, "Considering that this is the largest cluster infection in the metropolitan area, we will prepare countermeasures."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.