Busan City Offers 1 Million Won Reward for Reporting 'Small Gatherings'

Busan Police Agency and FSC Joint Effort, Illegal Business and Investment Seminar Reporting Center
Prohibition of Unregistered Illegal Multi-Level and Door-to-Door Sales Seminars
Administrative Order Issued to Ban Gatherings for Investment Seminars

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Busan City is taking strong measures in cooperation with judicial authorities and others to block the sporadic spread of COVID-19 infections centered on small groups.

On the 4th, the city issued an "Administrative Order Prohibiting Gatherings Related to Unregistered Illegal Business Operators' Multi-level Marketing Business Briefings and Investment Briefings Targeting an Indefinite Number of People," and on the 8th announced that it will jointly respond with related organizations such as the Busan Police Agency (Chief Jin Jeong-mu) and the Financial Supervisory Service Busan-Ulsan Branch (Branch Chief Kim Su-heon).

Recently, COVID-19 confirmed cases have been occurring consecutively in small gatherings mainly in officetels, and especially since these meetings are often held unofficially in an unregistered and illegal state, becoming a blind spot for quarantine, the city has begun full-scale countermeasures.

This administrative order prohibits gatherings for ▲ multi-level marketing and door-to-door sales business briefings by unregistered illegal business operators ▲ investment briefings targeting an indefinite number of people, i.e., medium and small-sized meetings, and ▲ providing venues for such gatherings. This order will remain in effect until lifted.

If it is discovered that a meeting was held in violation of this order, immediate prosecution will be initiated, and in the event of confirmed cases, comprehensive claims for treatment costs and diagnostic test fees will also be pursued.

Busan City will jointly operate a citizen reporting center with the Busan Police Agency and the Financial Supervisory Service Busan-Ulsan Branch, and will also conduct joint inspections.

The citizen reporting center is operated by the Busan City Small Business Support Officer, related departments of districts and counties, the Busan Police Agency 112 Reporting Center, and the Financial Supervisory Service Illegal Private Finance Damage Reporting Center.

Once a report is received, the city, districts and counties, and the police agency will immediately inspect the site, and if illegal business operations or violations of core quarantine rules are confirmed, they will respond with a zero-tolerance policy including immediate criminal prosecution.

Lee Yun-jae, Busan City’s Livelihood and Labor Policy Officer, said, “Considering the characteristics of illegal multi-level marketing and door-to-door sales briefings conducted secretly, and illegal investment briefings targeting an indefinite number of people such as real estate, stocks, and virtual currencies, citizens’ vigilance and active reporting of illegal activities are necessary.”

Busan City has raised the resident reporting reward from the previous 100,000 won to up to 1,000,000 won for valid reports.

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