Mayor Park Won-soon "Urgent Inspection of Call Center Working Conditions ... Full Survey of PC Bangs and Karaoke Rooms"

Seoul City Completes Most Contact Tracing for Confirmed Cases at Guro Korea Building
Ample Hospital Beds in Seoul... Taereung Athletes' Village to Operate as Residential Treatment Center

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon visited the Korea Building screening clinic in Guro-gu, Seoul, a site of a COVID-19 cluster infection, on the 12th to receive a briefing on the quarantine situation. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Regarding the cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a call center in Guro-gu, Seoul, Mayor Park Won-soon said, "The major fire is being brought under control." This is interpreted as the number of confirmed cases increased only slightly the day before, while a significant portion of testing for workers and residents in the building where the call center is located has been conducted.

Mayor Park held a briefing at the Guro-gu Public Health Center on the morning of the 13th and stated, "So far, confirmed cases at the Guro call center have been concentrated on the 11th floor of this building, and most of the movement investigations have been completed." However, he added, "We cannot be complacent," and said, "There is a high possibility that the fire will spread to other areas. We must respond as quickly as possible to contain the spread early."

Seoul City is focusing on the fact that the first symptoms among confirmed cases related to the Guro call center cluster appeared on February 22, and plans to identify and test all visitors who may have been exposed to the infection.

Mayor Park explained, "We need to identify everyone who visited the Korea Building from February 21, one day before, to March 11," and added, "We are conducting investigations not only on workers in the Korea Building where the call center is located but also on other visitors."

He also mentioned plans to investigate other call centers in Seoul and management measures for the poor working conditions in call centers.

Mayor Park said, "There are 417 private call centers in Seoul, and to accurately assess the situation and conduct guidance inspections, we have been carrying out emergency on-site inspections since the 11th," adding, "As of yesterday, 84% of inspections have been completed, and all will be finished by today."

He emphasized, "Cluster infections in call centers mainly occur among non-regular, low-wage, female workers," and stated, "Such environments are not limited to call centers, so attention must be paid to workers' working conditions and safety."

Seoul City has also launched a full investigation into PC rooms and karaoke rooms, where small-scale cluster infections have been occurring.

Mayor Park said, "We have started a full investigation of about 6,200 karaoke rooms and 4,200 PC rooms in the Seoul area, and are also focusing inspections on clubs and colatecs," adding, "We will recommend voluntary inspections and take preemptive preventive measures."

Regarding concerns about a shortage of hospital beds raised following the Guro call center cluster infection, he stated, "There are sufficient hospital beds in Seoul."

Mayor Park explained, "Currently, there are about 800 negative pressure beds with an operating rate of about 27%, so more than 70% are still available," and added, "Starting next week, with the cooperation of the Korea Sports Council, the Taereung Training Center will be operated as a living treatment center for 210 mild or asymptomatic patients."

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