5500 People Caught in 2 Months of Crackdown on Illegal Entertainment Venues in 'Quarantine Blind Spots'

Turning Off Signboard Lights to Receive Advance Reservation Customers
Police Conduct Regular Inspections During Peak Vacation Season

A nightlife district in Seoul. The above photo is not directly related to the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] As police continue crackdowns on illegal entertainment establishments that have fallen into the blind spots of COVID-19 quarantine measures, more than 5,500 violators have been caught over the past two months.

According to the National Police Agency on the 3rd, from the 5th of last month to the 6th of this month, the police deployed 17,052 officers and conducted joint inspections with local governments at 63,362 entertainment venues nationwide. During this process, they cracked down on 1,034 cases of illegal activities including quarantine guideline violations and apprehended 5,583 individuals.

By type, violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act such as quarantine rule breaches accounted for 609 cases involving 4,900 people; violations of the Food Sanitation Act were 50 cases involving 224 people; and violations of the Music Industry Act were 374 cases involving 444 people. There was also one case involving 15 people caught for violating the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Prostitution. The establishments raided included 306 cases at clubs and other entertainment bars, 64 cases at danranjupjeom (karaoke bars), and 664 cases at noraebang (karaoke rooms).

In Incheon, on the 1st at around 11:45 p.m., 22 people including the owner were caught operating an entertainment bar in Gyeyang-gu by turning off the signboard lights and locking the door, serving only pre-booked customers. Additionally, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency inspected 208 noraebang locations in their jurisdiction from the 31st of last month to the 5th of this month, cracking down on 18 places and 21 individuals.

The police plan to continue crackdowns as violations at entertainment facilities persist. Especially with the summer vacation season approaching, they will conduct regular inspections of peak-season entertainment venues and strengthen inspections and crackdowns on underground establishments and other entertainment facilities where natural ventilation is difficult. Furthermore, when violations such as gathering bans are detected, they will verify the employment relationships of service staff to also crack down on unregistered paid employment agencies and report related information to investigative units.

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