83 People Including Owner and Customers Booked at Gangnam Nightclub for 'Secret Operation'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] A nightlife bar in Gangnam was caught again for violating the gathering ban order.

According to the police on the 22nd, the Suseo Police Station in Seoul booked 83 people including the owner, employees, and customers at a nightlife bar located in the basement level 1 of a building in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, around 1:30 a.m. on the same day for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

The police found that the bar had business licenses partly as a regular restaurant and partly as a nightlife bar, but in reality, it was operated entirely as a nightlife bar. The owner was also charged with violating the Food Sanitation Act.

After receiving a tip-off, the police conducted a stakeout and carried out a crackdown for about two hours starting from 11:45 p.m. the previous day. While disguised as pedestrians and conducting inquiries, the police secured the identity of an employee who was watching the entrance of the establishment. They then confirmed that the ventilation system connected to the basement was operating and raided the site.

About 60 customers tried to escape the crackdown by fleeing to the 12th floor corridor, the top floor, and restrooms on each floor but were caught.

This bar is known to be the first to be caught for violating the gathering ban since the COVID-19 outbreak.

A police official stated, "Operating or using nightlife bars during the gathering ban period for entertainment facilities, which started on the 12th of this month, can lead to criminal punishment, not just simple fines."

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