Over 6,600 People Caught in 12 Weeks of Crackdown on Illegal Entertainment Venues in 'Quarantine Blind Spots'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] As police continue crackdowns on illegal entertainment establishments that have become blind spots in COVID-19 prevention measures, more than 6,600 violators have been caught over 12 weeks.

According to the National Police Agency on the 28th, from last month 5th to this month 27th, 19,308 police officers were deployed to jointly inspect 75,194 entertainment establishments nationwide with local governments. During this process, 1,246 cases of illegal activities including violations of quarantine guidelines and 6,632 individuals were caught.

By type, violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act such as breach of quarantine rules accounted for 722 cases involving 5,793 people; violations of the Food Sanitation Act were 54 cases involving 262 people; violations of the Music Industry Act were 469 cases involving 562 people. Additionally, 1 case involving 15 people was caught for violating the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Prostitution.

As violations at entertainment establishments continue to occur, the police plan to maintain ongoing crackdowns. Especially with the summer vacation season approaching, regular inspections of peak-season entertainment venues will be conducted, and inspections and crackdowns will be strengthened targeting underground establishments and other venues where natural ventilation is difficult.

Meanwhile, with the restructuring of social distancing measures allowing local governments to autonomously decide quarantine actions, it is expected that entertainment establishment crackdowns, which were previously led by the police, will be carried out by city and provincial offices considering regional circumstances.

Accordingly, the police plan to operate a focused crackdown period led by the headquarters if cluster infections originating from entertainment establishments spread nationwide, and will actively support joint inspections and crackdowns requested by local governments. Furthermore, during the focused crackdown period, rewards will be actively given to those who contribute to the crackdown on illegal operations at entertainment establishments.

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