[Summary] "No Business on Halloween Day" Seoul Clubs Announce Self-Imposed Closures

Seoul City is raising public awareness by producing a poster warning of the risk of COVID-19 cluster infections ahead of Halloween on the 31st. Photo by Seoul City.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Famous clubs in Seoul have announced a simultaneous closure on the weekend that includes Halloween Day on the 31st.

According to notices from various clubs on the 28th, large popular clubs located in Itaewon, Gangnam, and Hongdae will suspend operations from that day until the 3rd of next month.

They stated, "We have decided to close during the Halloween period to prevent COVID-19." It is reported that among them is a club in Itaewon where confirmed cases occurred last May.

Seoul City's 'Spooky' Warning... Clubs Announce "Halloween Shutdown"

The reason businesses gave up on the 'peak season' Halloween period is presumed to be because Seoul City announced an administrative order the day before, stating that if even one core quarantine rule is violated during this period, an immediate closure order will be issued on site.

An inspection team composed of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, local governments, and the National Police Agency plans to check core quarantine rules at major entertainment venues nationwide from 10 PM on the 31st until 3 AM the following day.

For any business that violates quarantine rules even once, a 'one-strike-out system' will be applied, resulting in immediate closure or legal action.

Clubs must suspend operations for two weeks starting at midnight the next day if they violate core rules such as electronic entry log creation, social distancing between users, and limiting the number of users to one person per 4㎡ from the 28th of this month to the 3rd of next month.

Seoul City is raising public awareness by producing a poster warning of the risk of COVID-19 cluster infections ahead of Halloween on the 31st. Photo by Seoul City.

Concerns Over Cluster Infections from Clubs Decrease... But Complete Safety Cannot Be Assured

With large clubs announcing closures, concerns over cluster infections originating from clubs have significantly subsided, but due to the nature of Halloween festivals where people enjoy costume play on the streets, there is still worry that complete safety cannot be guaranteed.

Park, a resident near Itaewon, said, "The streets have always been crowded with people during Halloween," adding, "If infection occurs on the streets, it is difficult to trace the movement paths. I hope people do not gather too much."

Previously, health authorities repeatedly urged people to refrain from gatherings, warning of the risk of COVID-19 resurgence as young people gather in enclosed spaces like clubs on Halloween Day.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun also said on the 23rd, "There are even public petitions requesting crackdowns on clubs and entertainment venues this weekend with Halloween Day," adding, "There is a very high risk that Halloween events could cause a 'second (Itaewon) club incident,'" and requested people to refrain from visiting clubs and to wear masks.

Five days before Halloween Day, on the 26th, Itaewon Street in Yongsan-gu, Seoul
[Image source=Yonhap News]

To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19... 'Quarantine Gates' Installed on Itaewon Streets on Halloween Day

Meanwhile, on the 31st, the day of the Halloween festival, 'quarantine gates' will be installed at both ends of the Itaewon World Food Specialty Street.

On the day of the festival, anyone passing through the approximately 170-meter street behind the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon must have their temperature checked, verify their visit via QR code, and complete full-body disinfection.

This appears to be an extraordinary measure to prevent a recurrence of the cluster infection from Itaewon clubs like the one in May.

Regarding this, Park Yumi, Director of the Seoul City Citizen Health Bureau, stated, "Together with the Itaewon Tourism Special Zone Association, we will install quarantine gates on the Itaewon Halloween specialty street to verify compliance with quarantine rules from the moment people enter the street."