Chungnam Imposes 'Gathering Restrictions' on Hunting Pochas and Emotional Bars Until COVID-19 Subsides

[Asia Economy (Naepo) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province has issued a "gathering restriction administrative order" requiring 3,071 local entertainment establishments to comply with quarantine rules. The administrative order will remain in effect until the COVID-19 alert level is lifted.

According to the province on the 26th, the order applies to entertainment bars where gatherings were previously banned, including clubs, roomsalons, stand bars, cabarets, and singing clubs (1,210 locations), as well as colatecs (26 locations), and additionally includes danranjumeon (509 locations), singing practice rooms (including coin karaoke, 1,326 locations), hunting pochas, and gamseongjumeon.

However, the province stated that hunting pochas and gamseongjumeon will be reviewed by each city and county based on their business type and facilities to decide whether to include each establishment in the order.

The gathering restriction administrative order aims to ensure that business owners and users comply with quarantine rules.

Accordingly, operators of entertainment bars such as clubs and roomsalons, colatecs, danranjumeon, hunting pochas, and gamseongjumeon must take measures such as preparing visitor logs, checking symptoms, requiring employees to wear masks, disinfecting before and after business hours, designating quarantine managers, and reporting to the local health center.

Additionally, singing practice rooms, including coin karaoke, must meet the same conditions and follow rules such as disinfecting the interior before business hours, operating a one-hour break time during business hours followed by disinfection, closing the door of the karaoke room used by customers, disinfecting for 30 minutes, and then resuming use.

Users must accurately provide their name and phone number, wear masks, and cooperate with symptom checks.

The administrative order is based on Article 49 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act and applies from the 25th until the COVID-19 crisis alert level "Warning" is lifted.

The province plans to conduct intensive inspections with cities, counties, and the police to ensure compliance with the administrative order. If violations are found during inspections, a gathering ban order will be immediately issued to the establishment based on the Infectious Disease Prevention Act, and fines will be imposed. Furthermore, if confirmed cases occur at the targeted facilities during the administrative order period, hospitalization and treatment costs, as well as quarantine expenses, may be claimed.

Governor Yang Seung-jo said, "The gathering restriction administrative order is an unavoidable measure to ensure that we can all safely enjoy our daily lives amid the risk of COVID-19 infection," adding, "If group infections occur at the relevant facilities despite these measures, we are also considering issuing gathering ban orders."

Meanwhile, Chungnam has reported 145 confirmed COVID-19 cases to date, of which 141 have been declared recovered and discharged.