[Report] "You Have to Scan the QR Code"... But Most Places Don't Even Keep a Log

'QR Code Verification' First Day, Noise Everywhere
'Compliance vs. Ignorance' Half and Half Among Businesses... Manual Entry Instead of QR
Some Didn't Even Fill Out the List... No Verification Even if Falsified
Businesses Popular Among Young People Relatively Better
Entertainment Bars and Danran Bars "Customers Reluctant to Expose Personal Information"

On the 10th, at the entrance of a trendy pub near Hongdae where a QR code-based electronic entry log system was introduced, a notice explaining how to use the QR code was posted.
Photo by Song Seung-yoon

[Asia Economy Reporters Song Seung-yoon and Lee Jung-yoon] "Those who wish to enter, please open the Naver application on your mobile phones."

Around 9 p.m. on the 10th, at the entrance of a hunting bar near Gangnam Station in Seoul. Despite it being a weekday, the place was crowded with people waiting to enter. Staff were busy explaining something to the influx of customers. It was the first day of implementing the QR code-based 'Electronic Entry Log (Ki-PassㆍKorea Internet-Pass)' system at entertainment facilities such as hunting bars and karaoke rooms, so they were guiding customers on how to use it one by one.

The atmosphere was similar at an emotional pub located near Hongdae. At the entrances of bars lined up along the streets, staff could be seen easily explaining how to use the QR code to customers. Some places even had signboards explaining how to issue the QR code.

Staff member A (23) said, "Most customers don't know how to use the QR code, so we are showing them on their phones and explaining it one by one," adding, "So far, I haven't seen any customers refuse to fill out the log or show unpleasant reactions."

The reporter tried it firsthand when entering a hunting bar in Gangnam. The QR code usage was not very difficult. Following the staff's explanation, opening the Naver app, tapping the menu on the top left, and checking the consent for personal information collection and provision, the 'QR code for entry' immediately appeared on the screen. The process of issuing the QR code and entering took about three minutes.

On the 10th, at a trendy pub near Gangnam Station where a QR code-based electronic entry log system was introduced, an employee is explaining how to use the QR code to visitors.
Photo by Song Seung-yoon

However, not all places strictly followed the QR code authentication procedure. Being the first day of enforcement, some establishments completely skipped the authentication process, while on the other hand, some customers refused to authenticate and turned away. Checking more than ten establishments located in the busy areas of Gangnam, Hongdae, and Incheon that day, nearly half did not comply with the authentication procedure.

Around 11 p.m. that day, a hunting bar near Gangnam Station in Seoul was letting customers in after simply measuring their temperature without even writing a log or scanning a QR code. Known as a 'Hip place' among young people, this place was bustling with customers coming and going nonstop, creating a weekend night-like atmosphere. Another nearby bar was the same. This bar, famous as an emotional pub, had no separate authentication procedures such as QR code scanning or manual log writing except for ID verification. In fact, this place had a history of suspending operations last month after a confirmed COVID-19 case visited.

Just after midnight on the 11th, a karaoke room near Hongdae was visited. Although it is famous enough to be called a 'landmark' of Hongdae, the visitor verification procedure was not properly followed here either. Without a QR code authentication system, staff at the karaoke room entrance measured temperatures and manually wrote down visitors' names and phone numbers one by one. However, they did not verify the authenticity. In fact, even if false information was written, there was no problem. This was a problematic issue during the COVID-19 outbreak originating from Itaewon clubs, making it difficult to identify visitors and contacts.

There was a clear difference in perception of QR code authentication depending on the type of business. Hunting bars and emotional pubs, mainly visited by young people, showed little resistance from both establishments and customers in scanning QR codes. On the other hand, entertainment bars and danran pubs, mostly frequented by relatively older age groups, mostly lacked QR code or any authentication procedures. The reason given was that customers tend to be reluctant to scan QR codes due to the nature of the business. Around 3 a.m. on the same day, attempts to enter four entertainment bars and danran pubs in a nightlife district in Incheon found that none followed the procedures.

A (52)-year-old operator of an entertainment bar there said, "Other entertainment facility owners nearby are also worried about the QR code," adding, "Most customers who visit here are reluctant to leave personal information, so who would come if we forcibly make them scan the QR code?"

The government plans to conduct on-site inspections during a guidance period until the 30th, focusing on encouraging the use of electronic entry logs rather than punishment, aiming to establish the system.

Meanwhile, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters conducted pilot operations from the 1st to the 7th at 16 designated facilities in Seoul, Incheon, and Daejeon, and from that day, mandated the use of electronic entry logs at eight high-risk facilities. The high-risk facilities include ▲hunting bars ▲emotional pubs ▲entertainment bars (clubs, room salons, etc.) ▲danran pubs ▲colatecs ▲karaoke rooms, etc. These establishments must have an electronic entry log system and must obtain QR codes from customers to complete the electronic entry log. Starting next month, establishments that do not have a QR code system or fail to manage logs properly may face fines up to 3 million won or even suspension of business.

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