'Ma, Ma, Like It's the Last Time' Entertainment District Unleashed Ahead of 4-Step Elevation

"Let's Enjoy the Last Friday Night" Youth Flock to Weekend Entertainment Districts
Second Rounds at Convenience Store Fronts and Benches... Secret Operations and Expedition Entertainment Too

Around 10:05 PM on the 10th, an entertainment alley near Gangnam Station in Seoul. As bars closed due to the gathering ban, the streets filled with people. Photo by Lee Jung-yoon leejuyoo@

[Asia Economy Reporters Byungdon Yoo, Seungyoon Song, Jeongyun Lee] Around 9 p.m. on the 10th, just before the implementation of the 4th level of ‘social distancing,’ the entertainment district near Gangnam Station in Seoul was overflowing with young people enjoying a Saturday night. About ten tables set up outdoors at one bar were fully occupied by people drinking, all of whom were either wearing their masks below their chins or had taken them off entirely while engrossed in conversation. Kim (23, female), a university student, said, "I hurriedly made plans because I heard that I wouldn’t be able to drink with my friends for the next two weeks," adding, "I hate having to stay at home because of COVID-19."

At 10 p.m., the streets were packed with hundreds of people who had left the bars. They stood on the street with their groups, continuing conversations left unfinished. Some smoked cigarettes and spat on the ground. There were also people staggering drunk, falling down, or sleeping on the street. Those who couldn’t quell their disappointment gathered in front of convenience stores, on benches, and in various alleys. In front of one convenience store, dozens of people gathered. The real ‘second round’ had begun.

One hand held a beer can, and snack bags were spread out among the crowd. Men approached groups of women for spontaneous meetings, and there were scenes where disputes broke out, prompting calls for police assistance. The wild party continued until after 1 a.m. the next day, with about ten people staying until the end. They played music and spent the night singing together while intoxicated. COVID-19 was nonexistent in this lawless zone.

Near Rodeo Street in Guwol-dong, Incheon, a popular spot for young people, footsteps did not cease as people tried to enjoy the last weekend before the 4th level began. It was hard to find empty seats in bars, and many gathered in groups of three or five on terraces in front of restaurants, smoking with their masks below their chins. Some establishments, including modern bars, kept their signs off and locked their doors after 10 p.m., continuing ‘secret operations.’ In the corridors where these businesses were located, only the hollow sound of customers talking in the dark echoed.

Around 10:30 PM on the 10th, in front of a convenience store near Gangnam Station in Seoul. As the bars closed, dozens of people were talking or drinking on the street. Photo by Lee Jung-yoon leejuyoo@

Cases of ‘expedition entertainment’ trips to non-metropolitan areas with lower distancing levels have also increased, putting other local governments on alert. Cheonan City in Chungnam installed mobile screening clinics in entertainment districts and operates on-site inspection teams to encourage compliance with quarantine rules and testing at entertainment facilities. Daegu City also prepared and implemented special strengthened quarantine measures for entertainment venues.

In Cheongju, Chungbuk, a club that was scheduled to open over the weekend decided to voluntarily suspend operations after receiving heavy criticism on online communities. However, large-scale concerts held on the 10th and the previous day attracted thousands of people, prompting health authorities to urge attendees to use self-diagnostic kits, heightening vigilance.

Despite strong lockdown measures, secret operations are not easily eradicated. Some businesses operate after hours, serving only regular customers, or ‘ppikki’ (street promoters) select and bring customers in entertainment districts. There are also covert operations where businesses rent places registered as regular restaurants but operate as entertainment bars after relocating. On the 10th, in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, 52 people including business owners and patrons were caught en masse for illegally operating an entertainment bar disguised as a regular restaurant.

From the 3rd to the previous day, the police deployed 3,267 officers and conducted joint inspections with local governments at 8,107 entertainment facilities nationwide. During this inspection, 133 cases of illegal activities and 938 people were caught violating quarantine guidelines. By type, there were 80 cases involving violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act with 742 people, 10 cases involving violations of the Food Sanitation Act with 150 people, and 43 cases involving violations of the Music Industry Act with 46 people.

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