72 Confirmed Cases at 'Itaewon Club' in Seoul... Concerns Over Spread to Sinchon and Hongdae Entertainment Districts (Comprehensive)

On the 12th, as the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) related to Itaewon clubs increases, citizens and foreigners are lining up to undergo COVID-19 diagnostic tests at a screening clinic set up at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mo Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that started at clubs in Itaewon, Seoul, is showing signs of spreading to other entertainment districts in Seoul such as Sinchon, Hongdae, and Jongno, prompting health authorities to closely monitor the situation.

On the 14th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that based on confirmed cases visiting not only Itaewon in Yongsan-gu but also Sinchon in Seodaemun-gu, Hongdaeipgu in Mapo-gu, and Nakwon-dong in Jongno-gu, they are identifying visitors to establishments in these areas and people who have come into contact with confirmed cases.

Na Baek-ju, Director of the Seoul Citizen Health Bureau and the city's quarantine controller, explained at the regular COVID-19 briefing that day, "Three foreigners who visited a pub in Seodaemun-gu after visiting an Itaewon club tested positive, and a man in his 20s from Seoul who visited the same pub around the same time also tested positive, bringing the total related confirmed cases to four."

Seoul city reviewed the customer list and card payment records of this pub, identified 199 people, and placed all of them under self-quarantine.

Director Na also said, "After a man in his 20s who visited a pub in Mapo-gu tested positive, four companions were additionally confirmed positive. We are conducting epidemiological investigations on 10 contacts to trace the infection route, and further investigations are underway using CCTV footage, visitor lists, and card transaction histories."

However, in the case of the Mapo pub, since those infected were not the confirmed cases who initially visited the Itaewon clubs but their companions, authorities are carefully examining whether the pub is the source of infection or if there are other causes.

Additionally, the Nakwon-dong area, which was heavily visited by confirmed cases from Itaewon clubs, will be subject to a full investigation if necessary.

Director Na stated, "Regarding visitors near Itaewon clubs, we have identified more users connected to base stations and sent notification messages to a total of 13,405 people. Those who visited clubs in the Itaewon area between April 24 and May 6 should get tested without delay," urging prompt action.

Meanwhile, as of 10 a.m. that day, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Seoul reached 714, an increase of six from the same time the previous day. Among them, three were classified as related to the Yongsan-gu Itaewon clubs, raising the total number of Itaewon club-related confirmed cases in Seoul from 69 to 72.

Following the previous day, one death was reported. Accordingly, among the 714 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Seoul, 564 (79.9%) have received treatment and been discharged, 146 are in isolation, and the total number of deaths is four.

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