Seoul City-Seoul Police Agency Joint Crackdown Team Raids 2 Entertainment Establishments... 133 Owners and Customers Caught

Seoul Autonomous Police Committee, Food Policy Division, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and Autonomous Districts Conduct Joint Late-Night Crackdown
"Some Businesses Thriving Despite Social Distancing Level 4, Undermining Level 4 Measures"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government's joint inspection team announced on the 18th that it conducted a crackdown on entertainment establishments violating the nighttime gathering ban on the 17th, following last week's joint inspection, and caught 133 people including owners and customers of two establishments that violated the notice.

The inspection was part of the ongoing joint crackdown on illegal operations of entertainment facilities between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency since the 9th. The joint inspection team, composed of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Gangnam Police Station, Seoul city officials, and district employees, collected intelligence on entertainment establishments operating in violation of the gathering ban despite continuous guidance and enforcement, and carried out a joint crackdown through meticulous planning and on-site raids.

Regarding the A entertainment bar in Yeoksam-dong that was caught this time, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency received intelligence that the establishment was operating illegally while appearing closed, and planned the crackdown together with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. While investigating the site, the joint inspection team observed that the entertainment bar seemed not to be operating on the surface, but after stakeout, they witnessed customers secretly entering and exiting through the back door from 8 p.m., concluding that the bar was indeed operating and proceeded with the crackdown.

The establishment did not voluntarily open the door upon the inspection team's request, so the joint inspection team forcibly entered. Before the team entered, the establishment turned off all the lights, obstructing the normal inspection process.

A Seoul city official explained, "Out of 16 rooms, 15 were already in use, indicating that the establishment was thriving, making the social distancing level 4 situation meaningless." The inspection team confirmed violations of the gathering ban under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and plans to take criminal and administrative actions such as fines against the owners, customers, and female employees.

Regarding the B general restaurant in Nonhyeon-dong, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency received intelligence that the establishment was operating as an entertainment bar and planned the crackdown together with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Although the establishment appeared closed, the joint inspection team conducted a stakeout around the suspicious establishment from 7 p.m. and began the crackdown after confirming customers entering the establishment at 9:30 p.m.

The establishment had four back doors to avoid inspection from the front door. When the crackdown started, customers tried to exit through the back doors, but the joint inspection team, already waiting there, blocked their escape routes.

The inspection revealed violations of the Food Sanitation Act and Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, including illegal employment of female employees and serving alcohol to customers without permission, despite being a general restaurant. The inspection team arrested the owner on the spot for violating relevant laws such as the gathering ban and plans to take criminal and administrative actions such as fines against customers and female employees.

This joint crackdown was conducted through organic cooperation between agencies to raise awareness by thoroughly cracking down on entertainment facilities that undermine the authorities' quarantine efforts through illegal operations and to ensure that the efforts of ordinary citizens who faithfully comply with quarantine obligations are not in vain.

In particular, with the full implementation of the autonomous police system, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency are continuing their cooperative relationship in various security areas to ensure citizens' safety, not limited to 'autonomous police affairs' such as children, women, and traffic.

Going forward, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency will continue joint crackdowns until violations of quarantine rules by entertainment facilities are eradicated and will make every effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Kim Hak-bae, Chairman of the Seoul Autonomous Police Committee, said, "It is a time when comprehensive crackdowns and strict law enforcement are necessary against entertainment establishments illegally operating as if mocking citizens' active efforts to comply with quarantine obligations," adding, "We will continue joint crackdowns on entertainment facilities in close cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency until next week to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect citizens' health and safety."

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