Holdem Pub to Close for Ten Days... "Local Governments Will Visit Individually"

Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Strengthens Quarantine Management in Blind Spots

A rental notice is posted at a store in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The health authorities have ordered Hold'em pubs, which were considered high-risk facilities for the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), to remain closed for ten days. This decision follows criticisms that while most facilities where many people gather, such as restaurants and cafes, face business restrictions or closures, there were hardly any restrictions on places with high risk levels.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the 17th that from 0:00 on the 19th until midnight on the 28th, Hold'em pubs will be prohibited from gathering. Recently, a large number of infections occurred after many people gathered late at night to play games at a Hold'em pub in Seoul. Similarly, unmanned cafes, which were also considered blind spots in quarantine measures, will no longer allow customers to sit inside or drink beverages, just like regular cafes.

Son Young-rae, head of the Strategic Planning Division at the Central Accident Response Headquarters, said, "Spaces where food is served and games are played are judged to have a high risk of infection, so we are strengthening infection control measures." He added, "There are various types of businesses registered as freelance, and local governments will directly seek out similar types of facilities."

This measure was prepared following fairness controversies due to differing quarantine standards across facilities. Along with Hold'em pubs and unmanned cafes, party rooms and accommodation facilities in the metropolitan area are prohibited from hosting parties or events organized by facility managers or companies, and strong recommendations have been made to ban parties or events hosted by individuals as well. The lodging industry has been instructed to enforce stricter room occupancy management as stipulated in their terms and conditions, and to notify that if parties are discovered, guests will be asked to leave. However, it remains unclear whether individuals can cancel and receive refunds for their reserved events or parties.

Group education and training courses conducted by government ministries, local governments, and public institutions will be suspended or converted to non-face-to-face formats. Group training such as new employee orientation at private companies and institutions is also requested to be postponed, canceled, or conducted remotely. Cultural education lectures held by local governments will all be suspended. Considering the recent cluster infections at ski resorts, ski resorts outside the metropolitan area will also cease operations after 9 p.m., applying measures equivalent to level 2.5.

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