'Gathering Restrictions' Including Eating at Convenience Stores in Gyeonggi-do... 11,857 Locations

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province has issued an administrative order restricting gatherings that limits eating and drinking at convenience stores in the province during specific hours, effective from the 4th until further notice.

The order applies to 11,857 convenience store owners, employees, and users within the province. Convenience stores are prohibited from selling food for consumption inside the store or at outdoor tables from 9 PM until 5 AM the following day. The province considers the transaction between sellers and buyers as a form of gathering in a broad sense. Users are also not allowed to eat food inside the convenience store or at outdoor tables during the same hours.

Violations may result in fines of up to 3 million KRW for business owners under the "Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act," and fines of up to 100,000 KRW for users.

Fines will be imposed starting from the 13th of next month, following a guidance period.

A provincial official explained, "The order was issued due to concerns that infections difficult to trace through disposable items or contact between users could occur in the eating areas of convenience stores, where many people gather in confined spaces."

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