Despite COVID-19 Spread, 348 Caught Violating Infectious Disease Control Act by Secretly Operating Entertainment Bars

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The National Police Agency announced on the 19th that it conducted intensive crackdowns from the 4th to the 17th of this month on violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, including violations of the gathering ban orders at entertainment facilities, resulting in 43 cases and 348 arrests.

During this period, the police inspected a total of 16,239 entertainment facilities nationwide. Among them, investigations are ongoing for 30 cases and 296 individuals who violated the gathering ban orders, while 13 cases and 52 individuals who violated quarantine guidelines have been reported to local governments for fines to be imposed.

The facilities violating the gathering ban orders were mostly entertainment bars with 21 cases and 216 individuals, followed by singing rooms (noraebang) with 6 cases and 59 individuals, and danran bars with 3 cases and 21 individuals. Violations of quarantine guidelines mainly occurred at singing rooms (7 cases, 30 individuals) and PC bangs (6 cases, 22 individuals).

Additionally, the police have identified 53 individuals under investigation for violations such as operating without a license under the Food Sanitation Act and violations of the Music Industry Act. On the 5th of this month, 16 people including business owners were caught operating an unlicensed entertainment bar by locking the door and employing entertainment workers for reserved customers at a singing room located in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Furthermore, on the 15th, a business owner was caught operating an unlicensed club by installing sound equipment and special lighting for pre-reserved customers at a general restaurant located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

The police plan to continue cracking down on violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, including violations of gathering ban orders at entertainment facilities, as social distancing measures (Level 2.5 in the metropolitan area and Busan, Level 2 in non-metropolitan areas) have been extended until the 31st of this month. A police official stated, "We will respond strictly according to the law and principles to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)."