Police Crack Down on Entertainment Venues Operating Despite Gathering Ban

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Entertainment establishments operating illegally in violation of the gathering ban order were caught by the police.

According to the police on the 31st, the Songpa Police Station in Seoul apprehended a total of 33 people, including the manager, one employee, and 31 customers, at an entertainment bar in Garak-dong, Songpa-gu, around 10:20 PM on the 29th.

After receiving a report that "illegal business is being conducted at a karaoke," the police, with the cooperation of the fire department, forcibly opened the door of the establishment but could not find any customers. However, they discovered a passage inside the karaoke that led directly to the adjacent entertainment bar, and upon entering, they found those who had been hiding to evade the crackdown.

At around 11:50 PM on the same day, an illegal karaoke in Garak-dong that was receiving customers through hostesses was also raided. The police apprehended a total of 10 people, including employees, hostesses, and customers, and booked the owner, Mr. A (37), on charges of operating an unregistered karaoke and arranging hostesses (violating the Music Industry Promotion Act).

Meanwhile, under the current Level 2 social distancing measures in the metropolitan area, gatherings are prohibited at six types of entertainment facilities, including entertainment bars, danran bars, emotional pubs, 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.