7 Gangnam Clubs Violate Quarantine Rules... Seoul City Proceeds with Administrative Penalties Including Fines

Seoul City "Will Continue Strict Enforcement Against Violations"
Soonchunhyang University Hospital Cluster Infection "First Patient Confirmed After Transmission Progress" Estimated

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government conducted inspections on 11 clubs located in Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu, identifying 7 that violated COVID-19 quarantine rules. Additionally, the COVID-19 cluster infection at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Yongsan-gu is estimated to have been confirmed after transmission had already progressed.

On the 22nd, Park Yumi, Seoul's quarantine controller, stated during an online briefing that administrative measures were taken against the clubs that violated quarantine rules. Operators of businesses that breached the rules will face fines and a two-week suspension of gatherings in accordance with the strengthened post-responsibility measures implemented alongside the easing of social distancing.

Park explained, "Going forward, Seoul will conduct joint crackdowns with autonomous districts, the police agency, and the Civil Affairs Judicial Police Unit to strictly enforce quarantine rules violations as well as violations of the Food Sanitation Act such as gambling and providing alcohol to minors at entertainment establishments and restaurants."

This crackdown was jointly conducted on the 20th by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, autonomous districts, and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency targeting establishments with numerous complaints. These establishments were found to have violated rules including the ban on dancing, the one person per 8㎡ capacity limit, maintaining a 1-meter distance between users, and the electronic entry log requirement.

Furthermore, Seoul estimated that the cluster infection at Soonchunhyang University Hospital in Yongsan-gu was confirmed after transmission had already occurred.

During the online briefing, Park Yumi stated, "From what we have identified, the timing of the first confirmed patient within the hospital was not at the very early stage but rather after the infection had somewhat progressed."

She added, "After confirmed cases appeared within the hospital, discharged patients returned to their communities, leading to secondary infections and an increase in confirmed cases." Despite multiple quarantine efforts such as testing patients before admission and retesting five days after admission, the hospital was unable to prevent the cluster infection.

The cumulative number of confirmed cases from the Soonchunhyang University Hospital cluster nationwide reached 218. Of these, 174 were registered in Seoul, and 44 were from other cities and provinces. The number of staff including doctors and nurses reached 37.

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