'Hotbeds of Group Infection' Not Only Churches and Clubs... Dance Halls Also Thriving

Classified as Indoor Sports Facility
Excluded from Gathering Ban Orders

Quarantine Authorities Ban Gatherings at Entertainment Venues
Alcohol Sales Prohibited
Many Users Gather in Small Indoor Spaces
Used Mainly by Middle-Aged People Over 50
Dance Halls Resembling Collateques

Around 3 p.m. on the 11th, users are seen dancing the social dance, the Blues, at a martial arts studio in downtown Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Concerns over a cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) originating from Itaewon clubs are intensifying. Although quarantine guidelines for multi-use facilities were strengthened after cluster infections initially occurred in religious facilities, it seems that detailed attention was lacking regarding club visits by the socially indifferent 'younger generation.' Despite the government and local governments implementing quarantine policies to strengthen management of clubs and similar entertainment venues, broad attention is still required for the existing 'blind spots.'

In this regard, it is necessary to pay attention to 'mudojang' (dance halls), which are classified as indoor sports facilities and thus excluded from the 'gathering ban order.' As of the 9th, quarantine authorities issued gathering ban orders for entertainment facilities such as clubs, room salons, emotional pubs, and colatecs, and these establishments have ceased operations. However, like colatecs, mudojangs, where alcoholic beverages cannot be sold but many users gather in narrow indoor spaces, are still thriving. These spaces are mainly used by middle-aged people over their 50s, and as of 2018, 72 locations nationwide have been registered.

At around 3 p.m. on the 11th, Kim Seong-yeol (59, pseudonym), a self-employed person, entered a mudojang in Seoul. There was no temperature check upon entry. Although the government mandates temperature checks, mask-wearing, and visitor log registration for indoor sports facilities, these measures are not well observed here. Mudojangs are originally spaces for dancing international standard dances such as jive and tango, but they also allow social dances like blues to be performed to gentle trot music. This business practice appears virtually identical to colatecs, which are classified as entertainment facilities.

Kim said, "In a space of about 100 pyeong (approximately 330 square meters), there were about 20 people dancing to jive songs and 30 to 40 people dancing blues, and they danced mixed together. Most wore masks, but some users took off their masks while using the facility." He added, "It is not much different from colatecs where social dances are performed, so I think it could easily become a hotbed for cluster infections."

Authorities explain that mudojangs, classified as indoor sports facilities, differ from entertainment venues that sell alcoholic beverages. A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official, the relevant department, said, "Mudojangs are places where only sports dances designated by the international federation are performed. They are different from clubs where entertainment activities occur. If necessary, we will discuss with quarantine authorities and issue quarantine guidelines." Local governments such as Seoul City also do not impose gathering ban orders or restrictions on mudojangs. A Seoul City official said, "We continue to inspect and guide indoor sports facilities such as mudojangs, mainly through district offices."

So far, quarantine authorities have focused on quarantine measures for places or industries only after cluster infections became apparent, such as religious facilities like Shincheonji and the Guro-gu call center. This is essentially a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. Since mudojangs are also high-risk spaces for infection, there are calls for quarantine authorities to pay more attention. Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Ewha Mokdong Hospital said, "In situations like the Itaewon clubs where there are many asymptomatic infected persons, the use of mudojangs, which involve a lot of physical contact, should also be refrained from in the same context. I believe quarantine authorities need to respond more proactively."

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