Itaewon Club List Inadequacies... Government Considers Nationwide Expansion of "Ban on Close Contact" (Update)

On the 10th, when Seoul City issued a 'gathering ban order' for all entertainment facilities in Seoul following the Itaewon club COVID-19 cluster infection incident, a gathering ban notice was posted at the Itaewon club in Seoul, which was reported to have been visited by confirmed cases. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] On the 10th, the government announced that it is considering expanding Gyeonggi Province's administrative order prohibiting interpersonal contact for those who have visited entertainment facilities such as clubs in the Itaewon area to a nationwide level. This decision comes amid a rise in COVID-19 cases linked to Itaewon clubs, with the judgment that it could aid in quarantine efforts.

Park Neung-hoo, the first deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters for COVID-19 (Minister of Health and Welfare), said at a briefing on the 10th, "If the effectiveness of the interpersonal contact prohibition order is guaranteed, it will greatly help quarantine efforts related to the Itaewon club cluster infection incident."

Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, issued an administrative order banning gatherings for all clubs and entertainment facilities in the province for the next two weeks on the same day. He also issued orders for COVID-19 testing and prohibition of interpersonal contact for those who visited six clubs in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and the Black Sleep Room in Nonhyeon-dong after the 29th of last month, where confirmed COVID-19 patients had been. Violators may face up to two years in prison or a fine of 20 million won, and if they infect others, the government plans to claim compensation for treatment costs and other expenses.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung announced an administrative order to prohibit gatherings at all clubs and entertainment facilities in the province on the afternoon of the 10th at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government office in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, in response to the cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) originating from Itaewon clubs.

Deputy Chief Park said, "Currently, there are limitations in properly identifying the list of (club visitors)," adding, "If an order prohibiting interpersonal contact is first broadly issued to those who visited the Itaewon area and then the individuals are gradually identified, it is expected to be effective." He also hinted at the possibility of expanding this measure nationwide while reviewing its effectiveness and ways to ensure it.

Earlier, as the cluster infection originating from Itaewon clubs spread, the government issued an administrative order on the 8th, under the name of the Minister of Health and Welfare, recommending nationwide entertainment facilities to voluntarily suspend operations. Following this, Seoul issued a gathering ban order on the 9th, and Gyeonggi Province and Incheon took similar measures. The gathering ban effectively results in a business suspension.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the same day, "Local governments in the metropolitan area are actively issuing gathering ban administrative orders," and urged, "Busan, as a major city, should also consider administrative orders by referring to these cases."

On the 10th, when Seoul City issued a 'gathering ban order' for all entertainment facilities in Seoul following the Itaewon club COVID-19 cluster infection incident, a gathering ban notice was posted at the Itaewon club in Seoul, which was reported to have been visited by confirmed cases. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

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