Amid COVID-19 Spread... 'Lounge Bar' Sneaky Operations Resurface

'Reopening of the Lounge Bar' After a Quiet Period
Rotating 'Grasshopper-Style' Operations... Strict Security Measures Against Crackdowns
No Sanctions Despite Concerns Over Cluster Infections

On the 30th, 2,564 new COVID-19 cases were reported, marking the highest number of daily cases for a week straight. Citizens who visited the temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza are waiting to get tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Amid the continued spread of COVID-19, some entertainment establishments that had disappeared for a while are now resurfacing with 'sly operations.' These are 'lounge bars' registered as regular restaurants but operated essentially as clubs.

According to a compilation of Asia Economy's coverage on the 4th, there are currently about 4 to 5 lounge bars operating in rotation within Seoul. Most operate in the form of 'after clubs,' opening in the early morning and closing during the morning or afternoon. The establishments that open change weekly. This is a so-called 'grasshopper-style' operation to avoid crackdowns.

In the metropolitan area, the Level 4 social distancing measures continue, and administrative orders banning gatherings at entertainment venues remain in effect. Lounge bars have avoided the gathering ban by being registered as regular restaurants, but they continue to operate in a form virtually indistinguishable from clubs, with DJs, customers dancing inside, and drinking alcohol. Although some establishments temporarily paused due to closures for violations such as breaches of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, recently, one by one, they have started operating again.

During this holiday period, lounge bars in Gangnam Apgujeong-dong and Hongdae opened their doors to customers. When asked about the entry method by a lounge bar MD (sales staff), he said, "Due to crackdowns, the address cannot be disclosed to new customers," only mentioning an approximate location. He gave an extremely cautious response, saying that if contacted on the day of entry, the location would be revealed then. He explained that the entrance fee for a lounge bar is around 1 to 1.5 million KRW per table, and even if customers want to use standing or bar seats, they must order alcohol costing about 200,000 to 300,000 KRW per bottle.

Due to the operational characteristics similar to clubs, these lounge bars often fail to properly follow quarantine rules, and record-keeping is poorly done, raising ongoing concerns about potential mass infections. There have been continuous opinions that such establishments should be managed under the same standards as clubs and other entertainment facilities, but in reality, they have never been sanctioned. Among entertainment industry workers who have been unable to operate for over a year, there are complaints. They argue that the quarantine policy is unreasonable as the ability to operate depends on the registered business type, despite similar operational forms.

Meanwhile, illegal operations by general entertainment establishments continue. From July 3 to the 26th of last month, the police, in cooperation with local governments, inspected 86,521 entertainment facilities nationwide over about three months. As a result, 956 illegal acts and 6,753 people were caught.

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