[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Gyeonggi Province has extended the ban on gatherings at multi-use facilities such as entertainment bars for an additional two weeks. This ban now also includes danranjumeon (karaoke bars with private rooms) and coin noraebang (coin-operated karaoke rooms).
On the 23rd, Gyeonggi Province issued an administrative order titled 'Ban on Gatherings at Multi-use Facilities Including Entertainment Bars to Prevent Cluster Infections in the Metropolitan Area.' This order is effective until midnight on the 7th of next month.
The ban applies to 5,536 locations including clubs, room salons, stand bars, cabarets, norae clubs, and norae bars that were already under the ban, plus 133 emotional pubs (gamseong joomjeom), 65 colatecs, and newly added 1,964 danranjumeon and 665 coin noraebang locations. This brings the total number of banned locations to 8,363.
Although the ban does not directly prohibit business operations, it effectively makes normal business impossible, resulting in the same effect as a business suspension. This measure was taken in response to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) that began at clubs in Itaewon, Seoul. Violators of the ban, whether business owners or users, may be fined up to 3 million KRW.
Furthermore, if confirmed cases occur while operating in violation of the ban, the authorities plan to impose all possible sanctions, including claiming compensation for all related quarantine costs such as investigation, testing, and treatment from business owners or facility users, as well as demanding punitive damages.
Gyeonggi Province stated, "Joint inspection teams from the province and city/county/district offices will conduct on-site checks to ensure compliance with the ban, and if necessary, will seek cooperation from the National Police Agency. We ask for the active participation of both entertainment bar operators and users despite the inconvenience and difficulties, as this is a serious national crisis."
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