Seoul City and Police Joint Crackdown: "Entertainment Venues Thriving... Social Distancing Level 4 Ineffective"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyungsoo] Seoul city announced on the 18th that it had caught 133 people, including owners and customers of two establishments in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, for violating the ban on gatherings at entertainment facilities.

The Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee conducted a joint crackdown the previous night together with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the city's Food Policy Division, Gangnam Police Station, and Gangnam-gu. They uncovered illegal operations at entertainment bar A in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, and general restaurant B in Nonhyeon-dong.

According to the city, entertainment bar A allowed customers to enter and exit through the back door. When the crackdown team forcibly opened the door and entered, customers and female employees were drinking alcohol. It was reported that 15 out of 16 rooms were in use. The crackdown team decided to file criminal charges against the owner, customers, and female employees and impose administrative penalties such as fines.

Establishment B, registered as a general restaurant, was caught operating as an entertainment bar at night by employing female employees without permission. The crackdown team arrested the owner on the spot for violating relevant laws, including the Food Sanitation Act and the Infectious Disease Prevention Act's ban on gatherings. Customers and female employees will be criminally charged and subjected to fines and other penalties.

A representative of the Seoul Metropolitan Autonomous Police Committee stated, "This is a time when strict law enforcement is necessary against entertainment establishments operating illegally," adding, "We will continue joint crackdowns with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency until next week to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

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