"Operating Entertainment Bars by Renting Karaoke Rooms"... 3,200 People Caught in Quarantine 'Blind Spots' Illegal Entertainment Facilities

210 People Caught in 8-Hour Crackdown
Police Launch Indefinite Crackdown on Illegal Operations

The scene of a nightlife district concentrated with entertainment bars in Busan. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The police have launched a large-scale crackdown on illegal entertainment establishments that have been a 'blind spot' in COVID-19 quarantine measures, resulting in the detection of more than 3,200 violators in just four weeks.

According to the National Police Agency on the 3rd, from the 5th of last month to the 2nd of this month, the police deployed 11,374 officers and conducted joint inspections with local governments at 37,794 entertainment venues nationwide. During this process, they cracked down on 604 cases of illegal activities, including violations of quarantine guidelines, involving 3,259 individuals.

By type, violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, including quarantine rule breaches, accounted for 337 cases involving 2,785 people; violations of the Food Sanitation Act were 37 cases involving 177 people; and violations of the Music Industry Act were 229 cases involving 282 people. Additionally, 1 case involving 15 people was detected for violating the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Prostitution.

In Seoul, on the 30th of last month at around 11:50 p.m., 48 people, including the owner who rented a singing practice room located in Gangseo-gu and employed 26 entertainment workers to operate an unlicensed entertainment bar, were caught in a crackdown. The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency also conducted an intensive inspection of entertainment facilities from 7:30 p.m. on the 30th of last month to 3:30 a.m. the next day, detecting 210 people for violating the assembly ban order and other offenses.

Considering the ongoing spread of COVID-19, the police plan to continue focused crackdowns on illegal operations of entertainment facilities for the time being. The main targets for enforcement are ▲ unlicensed illegal operations ▲ violations of assembly ban orders ▲ breaches of quarantine guidelines such as operating hours restrictions and failure to prepare electronic entry logs ▲ acts such as selling alcohol and employing hostesses at singing practice rooms.

A police official stated, "We will apply a zero-tolerance policy for violating establishments by taking legal action and thoroughly enforce administrative measures through local governments."

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