Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Cracks Down on 53 Cases of Illegal Operations at Entertainment Venues, Detaining 359 People

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The Seoul Police announced that they conducted a comprehensive crackdown on illegal operations of entertainment establishments across Seoul, including the Gangnam area, over two days from the 19th to the 20th, resulting in a total of 53 cases and 359 people being caught.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency deployed a large-scale force of about 4,300 officers simultaneously, including the life safety and investigation divisions of police stations and 50 companies of the police riot squad. Along with inspections of businesses subject to gathering bans and restrictions, visible patrols were conducted to encourage citizens to comply with quarantine rules, while intensive crackdowns were carried out on covertly operating illegal establishments.

The police apprehended 33 cases involving 296 people for violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, 3 cases involving 43 people for violations of the Food Sanitation Act, and 17 cases involving 20 people for violations of the Act on the Promotion of the Music Industry. An entertainment pub that had been suspended from operation for two weeks in March due to confirmed COVID-19 cases after violating quarantine rules was caught again operating during the gathering ban period, with 43 people apprehended. About 10 people were also caught recruiting customers on the street and traveling long distances by vehicle to operate at entertainment pubs under gathering bans.

Additionally, numerous cases were uncovered involving unauthorized entertainment pub operations in regular restaurants, sale of alcoholic beverages at karaoke rooms, and employment of hostesses.

The police plan to strictly enforce measures by criminally punishing not only operators but also users under the gathering ban and restriction orders for entertainment facilities, and by notifying administrative sanctions and tax authorities regarding violating businesses.

Choi Kwan-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, stated, "The police will actively support the government's quarantine policies and the public's participation in quarantine efforts to ensure they have practical effects and contribute to preventing the spread of COVID-19. We ask for citizens' voluntary cooperation and participation."

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