Summer Vacation Approaches Quickly: 5-Week Inspection and Crackdown on Harmful Environments for Youth

2464 Cases of Juvenile Protection Act Violations Detected in May

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will conduct a joint public-private inspection and crackdown on harmful environments for youth at popular beaches, campsites, and tourist attractions frequented by adolescents for five weeks starting from the 17th, coinciding with the summer vacation.

This inspection and crackdown is the first joint public-private operation since the revision of the "Notice on Prohibited Establishments for Youth Entry and Employment" in May, with a total of 780 organizations participating nationwide.

Joint guidance and crackdown with the police and related organizations targeting areas densely populated with youth-harmful establishments such as karaoke bars and pubs

Through this inspection, the Ministry will crack down on violations of the Youth Protection Act, including △ sales of harmful substances such as alcohol and tobacco to youth △ violations of entry and employment prohibitions at harmful establishments for youth such as entertainment bars and variant room cafes △ distribution of inappropriate flyers, while simultaneously conducting legal guidance and promotional campaigns targeting business owners and employees.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family conducted a joint public-private inspection and crackdown on harmful environments for youth for about a month starting May 8, in commemoration of Youth Month, resulting in the detection of a total of 2,464 violations of the Youth Protection Act. Among these, 22 cases were referred for investigation, and 2,442 cases received correction orders.

Cases referred for investigation to the local police stations included 22 establishments that sold alcohol to youth without checking identification, karaoke rooms that allowed youth entry after 10 p.m., and businesses that posted illegal advertisements or signs. A total of 2,442 establishments received correction orders from the relevant local governments, including 189 establishments that did not display warning signs prohibiting entry and employment of those under 19 years old, and 2,253 establishments that did not display warning signs prohibiting the sale of alcohol and tobacco to youth under 19.

Park Nan-suk, Director of the Youth and Family Policy Office at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, stated, “We will continuously inspect new and variant harmful environments such as variant room cafes and strengthen the promotion of the Youth Protection Act to business owners to ensure that youth can grow up safely.”

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