Flower Viewing is for the Yangban... Young People Lining Up 100m in Front of the Club Without Masks

Waiting line in front of a certain club in Gangnam [Source - Online Community]

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] Entertainment venues such as clubs, which had closed due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), appear to be resuming operations. As the government's recommendation for 'social distancing' has prolonged, young people in their 20s and 30s who had been refraining from going out are returning to clubs, raising concerns about COVID-19 infections.

On the 5th, a photo titled "The situation at a Gangnam club reopened after a month" became a hot topic on multiple online community sites. The photo showed hundreds of people lined up for hundreds of meters in front of a club presumed to be in Gangnam from the night of the 4th to the early morning of the 5th. In particular, some were captured not wearing masks at all, let alone maintaining a 2-meter distance, prompting critical comments.

Moreover, that day was the day the government announced it would extend the strict 'social distancing' period from the original 5th of this month to the 19th, adding two more weeks, to firmly curb the spread of COVID-19.

The quarantine authorities urged the continued suspension of operations at religious facilities, certain types of indoor sports facilities, and entertainment venues including clubs, and requested compliance with measures such as maintaining a 2-meter distance and wearing masks if operating.

[Source - Online Community]

In fact, clubs are places where a large number of unspecified people gather in a confined space, making them prone to large-scale cluster infections. Furthermore, since most people do not wear masks or wear them under their chins while talking or drinking in noisy environments, the risk of cluster infections is very high, comparable to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus cluster and the Guro-gu call center outbreak.

Additionally, the fact that most club patrons are in their 20s is problematic. People in their 20s belong to a risk group for COVID-19 infection. As of midnight that day, out of 10,237 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 2,789 (27.24%) were in their 20s, the highest number among all age groups.

Therefore, some argue that government regulations are necessary for businesses that could become 'super-spreader' sites. However, legally, the government cannot order clubs to close. Although the Minister of Health and Welfare and local government heads can order business suspensions under Article 49 of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, which allows restricting or banning gatherings to prevent infectious diseases, the criteria for 'closure' are limited to places where infectious disease patients are present or places recognized as contaminated with pathogens. Thus, unless confirmed cases emerge, business closures are practically impossible.

On the 4th, Park Neunghoo, the first deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and Minister of Health and Welfare, said, "As the overseas situation worsens and the infection trend in the metropolitan area does not subside, we have no choice but to continue strict social distancing for some time," urging cooperation with social distancing.

Deputy Head Park emphasized, "Many citizens are enduring inconvenience, refraining from going out, and canceling meetings or appointments to participate," adding, "Please understand that we must continue strengthened social distancing for some time, and even though it is difficult, I ask everyone to keep practicing social distancing for the sake of all of us."

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