Locking the Door and Serving Only Reserved Guests... Continued Violations of Quarantine Rules at Entertainment Venues

Police Catch 4,700 People Over 7 Weeks
Crackdown to Continue for the Time Being

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] As police crackdowns continue on illegal entertainment establishments that have fallen into the 'blind spots' of COVID-19 quarantine measures, more than 4,700 violators of quarantine rules have been caught.

According to the National Police Agency on the 3rd, from the 5th of last month to the 23rd of this month, the police deployed 15,421 officers and conducted joint inspections with local governments on 54,421 entertainment establishments nationwide. During this process, 834 cases of illegal activities including violations of quarantine guidelines and 4,749 individuals were apprehended.

By type, violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act such as quarantine rule breaches accounted for 494 cases involving 4,170 people, violations of the Food Sanitation Act were 46 cases involving 216 people, and violations of the Music Industry Act were 293 cases involving 348 people. Additionally, 1 case involving 15 people was caught for violating the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Prostitution.

In Seoul, on the 18th at around 8:40 p.m., 20 people including the owner and customers were caught at an entertainment bar in Gangbuk-gu that turned off its signboard lights and locked the door to operate only for reserved guests. Similarly, in Busan on the 19th at around 10:35 p.m., 30 people including the owner and customers were caught at an entertainment bar in Haeundae-gu operating in a similar manner.

The police plan to continue related crackdowns as the current social distancing level is extended for three weeks until the 13th of next month. The metropolitan area, including Daegu, Ulsan, and parts of Gangwon, will maintain level 2, while non-metropolitan areas will maintain level 1.5. Under social distancing level 2, entertainment establishments are prohibited from gathering. The main targets for strict enforcement are ▲ unauthorized illegal operations ▲ violations of gathering ban orders ▲ breaches of operating hour restrictions and other quarantine guidelines ▲ acts such as selling alcohol and employing hostesses at singing practice rooms.

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