18 Caught at Gangnam Nightclub Operating Against Gathering Ban... Including Secret Passage (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Despite the gathering ban, a large number of employees and customers were caught by the police at an unauthorized entertainment bar operating late at night in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. A passage used to help customers escape was also discovered at the bar.

According to the police on the 25th, the Suseo Police Station in Seoul apprehended a total of 18 people, including two business owners, employees, and customers, at a basement level 1 bar in Yeoksam-dong around 12:30 a.m. on the 22nd. The police reported the list of names to the local district office.

The bar was registered as a general restaurant but was actually operated as an entertainment bar. The business owners were booked on charges of violating the Food Sanitation Act. It was also found that there were three rooms of about 70 pyeong and several rooms on the other side measuring about 130 pyeong. A soundproof metal door was installed in the center of the bar’s interior. When the police arrived, the bar showed the 70-pyeong room to give the impression that it was not operating, but the actual business was conducted in the 130-pyeong rooms. The police had gathered intelligence about customers being received late at night and, after inquiries around the area, caught the operation in the act.

When the police crackdown began, the bar tried to escape some customers through an underground passage connected to the adjacent building but was caught. The police blocked the entrance to the neighboring building and traced back the passage to make arrests. The police are investigating the circumstances under which this passage was created and used and are considering whether to apply additional charges such as violations of the Building Act against the building owner.

At around 10:50 p.m. the previous day, 15 people, including customers drinking at a karaoke room in Samjeon-dong, Songpa-gu, were caught for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. The business owner in his 70s who sold alcohol to the customers was charged with violating the Act on the Promotion of the Music Industry (alcohol sales).

Meanwhile, under the current Level 2 social distancing measures in the metropolitan area, gatherings are banned at six types of entertainment facilities including entertainment bars, danran bars, emotional bars, colatecs, hunting pochas, and holdem pubs. This measure has been extended for three weeks and will be in effect until the 13th of next month.

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