Entertainment establishments reported as restaurants, karaoke rooms with lights on... Unauthorized operations exploiting gathering bans

Gwangju Entertainment Venues, Ulsan Karaoke and PC Rooms Operating Without Permits
Social Distancing Raised to Level 2 from the 23rd

According to the Gwangju Police Station and Ulsan Police Station on the 25th, illegal businesses operating without permits are proliferating despite the quarantine authorities' administrative orders prohibiting gatherings.

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Despite the administrative order to prohibit gatherings issued by quarantine authorities, illegal operations without permits are occurring frequently.

According to the Gwangju Bukbu Police Station and Buk-gu Office on the 25th, an unlicensed entertainment bar was caught around midnight in Yongbong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju.

Officers from the Yongbong Police Substation who responded to a report stating "an entertainment establishment that should be closed is operating" arrived at the scene to find that the establishment, registered as a general restaurant, was operating with hired hostesses. The scene of hostesses attending to customers was also witnessed.

According to the police investigation, the establishment had registered as a general restaurant but was operating as an entertainment bar. In particular, it was found that the establishment operated without a permit despite the administrative order prohibiting gatherings issued to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The government raised social distancing to Level 2 on the 23rd and issued a gathering ban order for 12 types of businesses including karaoke rooms, clubs, and PC rooms. Accordingly, the police will notify the district office about the establishment and ensure it faces administrative sanctions and other penalties.

In Gwangju, as COVID-19 infections spread mainly around entertainment bars such as karaoke rooms in the Sangmu district, an administrative order banning gatherings and closing facilities was issued from 7 p.m. on the 16th until the 25th for 682 entertainment bars and clubs.

Illegal operations were also detected in Ulsan. According to the Ulsan Police Station, on the 24th at 8:34 p.m., a report was received that a karaoke practice room in Jung-gu was operating, and police dispatched officers to the scene. Inside the karaoke practice room with its sign lights on, two customers were openly singing.

Also, on the same day at 10:27 p.m., a report was received that a PC room in Buk-gu was operating, and police responded. The owner, who was about to close, explained, "I received the suspension notice late" and said they were currently cleaning up.

Meanwhile, from midnight on the 23rd when social distancing Level 2 was implemented until 6 a.m. on the same day, 42 reports related to social distancing violations were received in Ulsan alone.

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