Seoul City Reports 29 Multi-Level Marketing and Door-to-Door Sales Companies for Violating Gathering Ban Orders

Interior view of Richway in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, where a large number of confirmed cases were reported last June.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] On the 27th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it has filed complaints against a total of 29 special sales companies that violated the assembly ban order by operating without registration or notification to the relevant district office.

The accused include Smile Muhan Group located in Gwanak-gu, where 25 confirmed cases of COVID-19 recently occurred. Through joint on-site inspections, Seoul City and Gwanak-gu confirmed violations of the assembly ban order and the Door-to-Door Sales Act, and filed a complaint against this company on the 25th. They are also considering additional claims for damages (subrogation rights).

Earlier, on June 8, the city issued an assembly ban order for special sales companies such as multi-level marketing, sponsorship visits, and door-to-door sales, deploying more than 2,300 personnel to conduct continuous special inspections of 3,097 locations. Besides the 29 locations filed for complaints this time, administrative guidance on mask-wearing, disinfectant placement, and fever checks was provided to 1,750 other locations.

Additionally, unregistered and unreported companies received through the Illegal Business Report and Tip-off Center and the private voluntary monitoring group are being urgently raided by a special mobile crackdown team.

In particular, since the elevation to social distancing level 2, special inspections and joint surprise inspections by the city, district, and police have been conducted on high-risk facilities such as direct sales promotion centers for door-to-door sales and areas with many COVID-19 cases, including Gangnam Teheran-ro, Gwanak Seoul National University Station, and Geumcheon Gasan Digital Complex. At the same time, a comprehensive investigation is underway on quarantine status and compliance with the assembly ban order.

Seo Seong-man, Seoul City’s Labor and Livelihood Policy Officer, stated, "We will take strong measures using all available means such as complaints, business suspension, and claims for damages against door-to-door sales companies operating illegally through small gatherings despite the assembly ban order." He urged, "Elderly citizens should avoid attending promotion and experience centers, and citizens should actively report and tip off illegal business activities in the special sales sector to the Illegal Business Report and Tip-off Center or the 120 Dasan Call Center."

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