Clubs Again 'Voluntarily Close'... Some Caught Violating Quarantine Rules

At around 6:30 a.m. on the 19th, a club in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, is bustling with crowds. As social distancing measures in the metropolitan area have been eased to level 2, most famous clubs in Seoul continue to operate in the form of 'after clubs.'
/Photo by Song Seung-yoon kaav@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Famous clubs in Seoul that resumed operations following the easing of social distancing measures have once again begun to close down one after another. Some appear to have taken a preemptive 'voluntary closure' approach in anticipation of gathering bans due to violations of quarantine rules.

As of the 28th, the majority of well-known clubs in Seoul, including those in Gangnam, have entered voluntary closure. Some announced their intention to remain closed until this day, while others have not specified the duration of their closure. Among them, some were found to have violated regulations during a joint crackdown conducted on the 20th of this month by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, local districts, and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. In this operation, 7 out of 11 clubs located in Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu were caught violating rules. The operators of the identified establishments will receive fines, warnings, and a two-week gathering ban.

After the social distancing level was eased on the 15th (currently Level 2 in the metropolitan area and Level 1.5 in non-metropolitan areas), about eight clubs in Seoul resumed operations. Under the current Level 2 social distancing rules in the metropolitan area, clubs are allowed to operate from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Accordingly, most clubs changed their business models to operate as so-called ‘after clubs’ by opening from 5 a.m. to noon, when the operating restrictions are lifted, or by starting operations in the early afternoon and closing by 10 p.m., dividing their business into two shifts?morning and afternoon.

Additionally, dancing and moving tables are prohibited in clubs, mask-wearing is mandatory, and only one person per 8 square meters is allowed entry. Indoor smoking is also banned, and an electronic entry log system must be implemented. Inside the facility, users must maintain a distance of at least 2 meters (minimum 1 meter) from each other.

However, since the reopening, very few places have properly adhered to these quarantine rules. In particular, many patrons visit multiple clubs during the same time period, increasing the risk factors for cluster infections. On the other hand, some clubs and lounge bars continue to operate despite these circumstances. Some have even expressed their intention to remain open on March 1, the Samiljeol holiday.

Meanwhile, the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced that as of midnight on the same day, 356 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed, bringing the total to 89,676. This figure is 59 fewer than the 415 cases reported the previous day.

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