Gwangjin-gu Operates Special Task Force for Entertainment Facilities to Prevent COVID-19 Spread from Itaewon Clubs

Proactive Identification and Specimen Collection of Patrons at Itaewon Clubs and Other Entertainment Venues...Focused Management of Local Entertainment Facilities (Clubs, Sensory Pubs, etc.)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Seon-gap) is operating a ‘Special Task Force for Entertainment Facilities’ to proactively respond to the occurrence of local COVID-19 confirmed cases related to Itaewon clubs.

Since the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, the district established a thorough quarantine system, and prior to the occurrence of confirmed cases related to Itaewon clubs, except for 7 imported cases from overseas and 1 contact case from other regions, there had been no cases of community infection.

However, as additional confirmed cases related to Itaewon clubs have recently occurred, the district judged the risk of local infection spread to be serious and quickly formed the ‘Special Task Force for Entertainment Facilities.’

The Special Task Force for Entertainment Facilities has been operating separately within the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Situation Room since May 11 until the situation ends. It plays a role in proactively identifying users of entertainment facilities such as Itaewon clubs and sleeping rooms and guiding them to promptly undergo specimen testing.

Additionally, it conducts focused administrative order compliance inspections on local clubs, emotional pubs, and other entertainment facilities, and promotes quarantine measures at entertainment facilities to prevent community infection.

The Special Task Force for Entertainment Facilities is led by the Deputy Mayor, with the Director of the Safety and Environment Bureau and the Director of the Public Health Center serving as the Situation Room heads. It is composed of the Situation Management Team (Urban Safety Division), Disease Control Team (Health and Medical Division), and Guidance and Inspection Team (Health and Hygiene Division, Gwangjin Police Station, Gwangjin Fire Station).

The main tasks of the Situation Management Team include sending periodic disaster text messages (including English) and guiding suspected cases to get tested via SNS to encourage testing of visitors to entertainment facilities, utilizing community service centers, neighborhood leaders, and professional organizations to lead suspected individuals to testing.

The Disease Control Team leads the operation of screening clinics and quarantine of entertainment facilities in the area. The Guidance and Inspection Team, together with Gwangjin Police Station, forms an inspection team of 9 members across 4 groups to manage and inspect registered entertainment facilities and unregistered entertainment businesses operating covertly.

They also verify compliance with the business suspension orders for operators, attach entry restriction notices, and plan to take legal action against businesses and users who do not comply with the orders.

Furthermore, in cooperation with Gwangjin Fire Station, joint inspections will be conducted when safety inspections are necessary through functional role coordination.

The district conducts anonymous testing for those hesitant to get tested due to concerns about identity exposure. The ‘Anonymous Testing System’ assigns a number for each public health center and only verifies phone numbers without recording real names if the examinee has COVID-19 symptoms or suspects infection and wishes to remain anonymous.

The current status of entertainment businesses in Gwangjin-gu includes 17 clubs, 76 danran pubs, and 3 colatecs, totaling 96 establishments.

Kim Seon-gap, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, stated, “Although COVID-19 had entered a stable phase, confirmed cases are increasing again due to a cluster infection at Itaewon clubs. With confirmed cases related to Itaewon clubs occurring in our district, there is concern about the spread of local infection. We will return to the initial mindset when forming the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and form the ‘Special Task Force for Entertainment Facilities’ to prevent the spread of local infection with the determination that ‘the safety of our residents is the top priority.’”

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