Economic Pressure from COVID-19... Entertainment Business Owner Found Dead, Industry Backlash

A member of the Korea Entertainment Food Industry Central Association, Gyeongnam Province Branch, is burning a business license at the entrance of Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office in Uichang-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam on the afternoon of January 21. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Jumi Lee] In Geochang, Gyeongnam, outrage continues in the related industry as an entertainment business owner could not endure the economic hardships caused by COVID-19 and made an extreme choice. There are criticisms that the government failed to respond properly to COVID-19, leading to the owner ultimately taking their own life.

According to the Geochang Police Station on the 16th, a 45-year-old entertainment business owner, Mr. A, was found dead at his home on the 13th. The police estimate that Mr. A made an extreme choice after suffering economic pressure due to being unable to operate his business for a long time amid the spread of COVID-19.

Although no suicide note was found, the police believe he took his own life considering that no outsiders had access and the body showed no external injuries.

Mr. A, who served as the president of the Geochang entertainment business association, experienced severe stress after being unable to operate his business properly for over 10 months, and was reportedly struggling even when association members called to appeal for countermeasures.

The Korea Entertainment Food Service Central Association Gyeongnam Branch and its chapters plan to hold a large-scale rally at 1 p.m. on the 17th in front of the Democratic Party of Korea Gyeongnam Provincial Party Office and Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office. This is because the social distancing guideline restricting business operations after 10 p.m., which took effect on the 15th, does not consider the characteristics of entertainment businesses that operate late at night.

The entertainment business industry expects hundreds to participate in this rally, coinciding with Mr. A’s death. On January 7, about 90 entertainment business owners also held a rally in front of the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office to voice the damages caused by COVID-19.

Earlier, on the 15th, the government lowered the social distancing level from 2.5 to 2 in the metropolitan area and from 2 to 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas. Nationwide entertainment businesses, which had been banned from operating, are now allowed to operate until 10 p.m.

※ If you have difficult feelings such as depression or know family or acquaintances experiencing such difficulties, you can receive 24-hour professional counseling at suicide prevention hotlines 1577-0199, Hope Phone 129, Life Phone 1588-9191, and Youth Phone 1388.

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