Dancing at Restaurants and Host Bars Leads to Suspension and Fines... "Strengthened Crackdown on Evasive Operations" (Update)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The government has decided to actively impose business suspension or fines if dancing occurs in restaurants or cafes where dancing is prohibited under quarantine rules.

On the 17th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced that starting from the 16th, they will take such measures in response to criticisms that dancing restaurants and host bars, which are registered as general restaurants but operate similarly to entertainment facilities, have loopholes in quarantine by operating 24 hours without restrictions on operating hours.

According to the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, restaurants and cafes are currently prohibited from dancing in all areas within the facility under quarantine rules. Additionally, if mandatory quarantine rules are necessary, quarantine rules for similar business types may be applied.

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Accident Response Headquarters, emphasized, "Some dancing restaurants or host bars operate similarly to entertainment facilities but are classified as general restaurants, leading to criticisms that operating hour restrictions or quarantine passes are not applied in some regions. Currently, dancing is prohibited in restaurants and cafes under quarantine rules, and violations result in business suspension or fines." He explained that if a restaurant's purpose is dancing, it is classified and managed as an entertainment facility.

Son added, "In the case of host bars, even if they are classified as general restaurants like emotional pubs or hunting pochas, they should be classified and managed as entertainment facilities," and "these businesses are subject to 24-hour operation restrictions and quarantine pass applications." Host bars also employ entertainment service workers, so considering fairness with other entertainment facilities, they can be included and applied as entertainment facilities.

He said, "We have re-instructed local governments and requested active inspections and penalties," adding, "These measures are the minimum steps to protect unvaccinated individuals from infection risks and ensure the safety of users."

Meanwhile, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters plans to strengthen inspections in cooperation with local governments to prevent illegal or illicit operations that take advantage of relaxed quarantine measures during the phased recovery of daily life.

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