Chungnam Issues Administrative Order for Closure of Entertainment Venues and Diagnostic Testing for Itaewon Visitors

Yang Seung-jo, Governor of Chungcheongnam-do, is holding a press conference on COVID-19 administrative orders at the provincial office on the 11th. Provided by Chungcheongnam-do

[Asia Economy (Naepo) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province has issued an administrative order prohibiting operations at 1,236 entertainment establishments within the region. In particular, visitors to Itaewon clubs have been ordered to undergo diagnostic testing and refrain from interpersonal contact.

According to Chungnam Province on the 11th, the closure order applies to entertainment bars such as clubs, room salons, stand bars, cabarets, karaoke clubs, and colatecs located in the Chungnam area, effective from 6 p.m. on the 11th until midnight on the 24th.

This is based on the "Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act," and is effectively interpreted as a ban on the operation of the specified facilities.

The province will intensively inspect compliance with this administrative order on-site in cooperation with each city and county, as well as the police, and impose fines on facilities that violate the order based on the Infectious Disease Prevention Act.

It was emphasized that if confirmed cases occur within entertainment facilities during the administrative order period, hospitalization, treatment, and quarantine costs may be claimed.

The province also issued an administrative order requiring diagnostic testing for COVID-19 and prohibition of interpersonal contact for those who recently visited clubs in Itaewon, Seoul. This measure was taken due to increased concerns about the re-spread of COVID-19 infections, which started at Itaewon clubs, within the local community.

The subjects of the COVID-19 diagnostic testing and interpersonal contact prohibition order include those who visited six clubs located in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul?King Club, Queen, Trunk, The Fountain, Soho, and Him?from the 24th of last month to the 6th of this month; Black Somyeonbang in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu; and general and rest restaurants in Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu, where confirmed cases have been reported, if they have ties to Chungnam.

Those subject to the order must visit health center screening clinics between the 11th and 17th to undergo testing and must refrain from interpersonal contact for up to two weeks starting the day after their visit to the relevant establishments.

So far, no confirmed cases related to Itaewon clubs have been reported in Chungnam. Eight identified contacts have all tested negative, and among 85 voluntary reporters, 48 have also tested negative. Testing is ongoing for other voluntary reporters.

Meanwhile, under the Infectious Disease Prevention Act, intentional omission or concealment of facts during epidemiological investigations can result in imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to 20 million KRW, and refusal or evasion of diagnostic testing can result in a fine of up to 2 million KRW.

Yang Seung-jo, Governor of Chungnam Province, said, “It is very regrettable that community infection cases have occurred nationwide shortly after transitioning to everyday social distancing,” and added, “The province is issuing this administrative order with a stern attitude to control and manage this situation.”

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