"We Are Also Citizens... Paying More Taxes" Entertainment Workers Appear in Blue House National Petition

Seoul City and Other Local Governments Order Closure of Entertainment Venues

Following the cluster outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) originating from Itaewon clubs, local governments have issued closure orders for entertainment establishments. Amid this, a national petition has emerged requesting the protection of the livelihoods of workers in these entertainment venues.
/Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Website Board Screen Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Following the cluster infection outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) originating from Itaewon clubs, local governments have issued assembly ban orders on entertainment establishments, and a national petition has emerged requesting livelihood support for workers in these establishments.

On the 12th, a petition titled "Entertainment Workers Are Also Citizens" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. As of 1:30 PM that day, the petition had received 6,053 endorsements.

The petitioner appealed, "Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon have issued assembly ban orders on all entertainment facilities," adding, "Entertainment workers lose all income due to the assembly ban orders. Isn't this too harsh?"

They continued, "How are we supposed to live immediately? Of course, ending COVID-19 is important, but entertainment workers are also citizens of the Republic of Korea," and lamented, "Entertainment facilities pay several times more taxes than other industries. Therefore, we want to be respected as citizens."

Furthermore, they argued, "Although confirmed COVID-19 cases emerged from entertainment facilities causing a resurgence, there are many other places where people gather densely and have close contact in confined spaces," and stated, "We oppose issuing such extreme administrative orders only to entertainment establishments."

Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, on the 9th, Seoul City issued a second assembly ban order on entertainment establishments within the city. Additionally, on the 11th, it ordered compliance with seven major quarantine rules for similar entertainment venues such as 'hunting pochas' (hunting pubs).

Gyeonggi Province also issued a two-week assembly ban order on all entertainment establishments within the province, with Daegu, Incheon, and Chungnam joining in.

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