Gwangju Entertainment Business Owners "Will Open from the 18th"... Dissatisfied with Extended Business Ban

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Owners of entertainment establishments in the Gwangju area have announced collective action to defy the government's extended 'business suspension' quarantine guidelines and continue operations.

According to the Gwangju branch of the Korea Entertainment Food Service Central Association on the 17th, a significant number of the approximately 700 establishments affiliated with the organization have decided to resume business starting from the 18th of this month.

The owners, opposing the two-week extension of the business suspension order for entertainment businesses that was originally set to end at midnight on this day, held an emergency meeting the previous day and reached this consensus.

It is reported that owners across Gwangju, especially in entertainment-dense areas such as Chipyeong-dong in Seo-gu, Sinan-dong in Buk-gu, and Ssangam-dong in Gwangsan-gu, will resume operations.

If fines are imposed due to the resumption of business, other establishments have agreed to share the burden of the fines.

They have been conducting a 'lighting protest' since the 5th, keeping their store signs lit while keeping the doors closed, in opposition to quarantine rules that differentiate by business type. When starting the lighting protest, they stated that if the gathering ban (business suspension) were extended, they would accept penalties such as fines and begin operations.

Some owners also plan to hold a tent sit-in protest in the lobby of Gwangju City Hall on the afternoon of the 18th. They intend to request a meeting with Mayor Lee Yong-seop and urge the lifting of the business suspension order.

Gwangju City has decided to maintain social distancing level 2 until the 31st in accordance with the government's quarantine guidelines. Quarantine rules for cafes, bathhouses, and religious activities will be partially eased starting at midnight on the 17th.

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