Continued Violations of 'Entertainment Venue' Quarantine Rules... 4,300 People Caught in 6 Weeks

Continued Crackdowns Met with Resistance in Various Places

Members of the Suwon City Branch of the Korea Entertainment Food Industry Central Association Gyeonggi Province Chapter are marching in the Yeouido area of Seoul on the afternoon of the 10th, holding placards that read "Lift the Gathering Ban Order."
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Police crackdowns on illegal entertainment establishments, which have been a 'blind spot' in COVID-19 prevention measures, have continued for over six weeks, resulting in the apprehension of more than 4,300 violators of quarantine rules.

According to the National Police Agency on the 3rd, from the 5th of last month to the 16th of this month, the police deployed 14,284 officers and conducted joint inspections with local governments at 48,000 entertainment venues nationwide. During this process, 757 cases of illegal activities, including violations of quarantine guidelines, and 4,372 individuals were caught.

By category, there were 451 cases involving violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, with 3,855 individuals, 40 cases violating the Food Sanitation Act involving 182 individuals, and 265 cases violating the Music Industry Act involving 320 individuals. Additionally, 1 case involving 15 individuals was caught for violating the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Prostitution.

The Busan Police Agency inspected 406 entertainment venues around the beach from 8 p.m. on the 15th to 2 a.m. the next day, in cooperation with local governments, and apprehended 28 people at 5 locations for violating the assembly ban. In Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, 75 people, including business owners, were caught for violating quarantine guidelines such as failing to prepare electronic entry logs at six entertainment bars from the 12th to 13th.

As police crackdowns continue, resistance has also emerged in various places. Entertainment venues have refused entry, and operations have become covert through measures such as installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) or feigning closure. It has also been reported that some business owners have protested vehemently during the crackdown process.

Considering the ongoing spread of COVID-19, the police plan to continue intensive crackdowns on illegal operations at entertainment venues for the time being. The main targets for enforcement are ▲ unauthorized illegal operations ▲ violations of assembly ban orders ▲ violations of quarantine guidelines such as operating hour restrictions ▲ acts such as selling alcohol and hiring hostesses at singing practice rooms.

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