Gwangju City Issues Emergency Administrative Order to 'Prohibit Gathering' at Entertainment Venues

From 6 PM on the 12th to 6 AM on the 26th... Targeting Clubs, Room Salons, Emotional Pubs, and Collatecs

Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop is holding a press conference on the morning of the 12th at the city hall briefing room regarding the issuance of an administrative order to prohibit gatherings at entertainment facilities. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City issued an emergency administrative order banning gatherings at 701 entertainment facilities within the city from 6 p.m. on the 12th until 6 a.m. on the 26th, two weeks later.

On the 12th, Mayor Lee Yong-seop held a COVID-19 related press conference at the city hall briefing room and announced that, pursuant to Article 49 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, an emergency administrative order banning gatherings will be enforced from 6 p.m. on the 12th until 6 a.m. on the 26th at clubs, room salons, and other entertainment pubs, as well as emotional pubs and colatecs among general restaurants within the city.

The mayor stated, “As of 8 a.m. today, a total of 130 visitors from the Gwangju area visited clubs in Itaewon or the Black Sleep Room in Nonhyeon-dong between the night of the 29th of last month and the early morning of the 8th, and all test results for these visitors have come back negative.” He added, “However, voluntary reporting by visitors is increasing, and if even one visitor becomes a transmitter of a local cluster infection, the painstakingly built quarantine efforts to protect the community from COVID-19 will collapse in an instant.”

He further expressed concern, saying, “If that happens, facilities such as religious institutions, indoor sports facilities, nursing homes, and academies will have to be restricted again, and citizens’ daily lives and economic activities will inevitably be limited once more. Events such as the minimally scaled ‘40th Anniversary 5·18 Democratization Movement Commemoration Ceremony’ will also face unavoidable rescheduling.”

In particular, he explained the necessity of the administrative order by stating, “About 30% of confirmed cases related to the Itaewon clubs were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. If young asymptomatic carriers spread the virus to high-risk groups such as the elderly or those with underlying conditions, the situation could become very serious.”

Violations of the administrative order issued today may result in prosecution and fines of up to 3 million KRW. Additionally, if confirmed cases arise due to violations, violators will be responsible for treatment costs, and claims for costs related to quarantine and other expenses may be made. Furthermore, if illegal acts occur, violators may also bear liability for damages.

During the administrative order period, Gwangju City, together with related organizations including the city government, autonomous districts, police, and consumer food hygiene inspectors, will form 10 teams of over 80 personnel to inspect daily business operations and compliance with quarantine rules, taking measures such as prosecution against violating establishments.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop also once again requested active compliance with the administrative order issued by Gwangju Metropolitan City on the 10th.

According to the administrative order issued on the 10th, citizens who visited six clubs in Itaewon (King Club, Queen, Trunk, The Fountain, Soho, Him) and the Black Sleep Room in Nonhyeon-dong from the night of April 29 to the early morning of May 8 should promptly self-report to their local health center and undergo testing without fail.

Furthermore, individuals notified by health authorities for active monitoring and those who visited the above clubs and Black Sleep Room must refrain from interpersonal contact and going out for up to two weeks from the date of their visit.

Violations of this may result in epidemiological investigations (Article 18, Paragraph 3), health examinations (Article 46), quarantine, and prohibition of interpersonal contact (Article 47) under the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, punishable by up to two years imprisonment or fines up to 20 million KRW. Additionally, if confirmed positive due to violating the administrative order, costs related to quarantine may be claimed.

Mayor Lee emphasized, “Gwangju had the fewest confirmed cases among special and metropolitan cities due to its seamless quarantine network and active cooperation from citizens, even during the first confirmed case on February 3, the cluster infections among Shincheonji Daegu Church worshippers, and the successive confirmed cases among overseas arrivals. It quickly returned to being a ‘Clean Gwangju.’” He urged citizens’ active cooperation, stating, “This time as well, the spread of the coronavirus can be prevented when the health authorities’ proactive and meticulous response is combined with citizens’ active cooperation.”

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