Police Crack Down on 16 Owners and Customers at Late-Night Karaoke Rooms in Songpa-gu, Seoul

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Despite operating hour restrictions, the owner and customers of a singing practice room in Seoul were caught in large numbers by the police for operating late into the night.

According to the police on the 13th, the Songpa Police Station in Seoul apprehended a total of 16 people, including one owner and 15 customers, at a singing practice room in Garak-dong, Songpa-gu, around 2:30 a.m. on the same day for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

After receiving a 112 report stating that "the karaoke room is operating illegally," the police, along with the fire department, rushed to the scene. It was also confirmed that alcoholic beverages were being sold at the business site, leading to the owner being charged under the Music Industry Promotion Act as well.

A police official stated, "We plan to notify the Songpa District Office of the individuals caught," and added, "We will continue to respond with full force whenever reports of quarantine rule violations are received."

Meanwhile, the government has extended the current Level 2 social distancing and the ban on private gatherings of five or more people in the metropolitan area for three weeks from the 14th to the 4th of next month. Singing practice rooms, restaurants, and cafes may operate until 10 p.m., while six types of entertainment facilities including nightclubs, danran bars, emotional pubs, colateks, hunting pochas, and holdem pubs are prohibited from gathering.

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