22 Public Officials Dine Together... Numerous Violations of 'Gatherings Over 5 Prohibited' Quarantine Rules

Boryeong City Officials, Gwangyang City Council Members and Staff, and Gwangju Dong-gu and Nam-gu Offices

Gatherings of 5 or more people are prohibited.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] Cases of violating the quarantine measure of 'no gatherings of five or more people' and having group meals are occurring repeatedly in the public service sector.

On the 11th, more than 20 employees of the Administrative Welfare Center in Ungcheon-eup, Boryeong, Chungnam, booked a restaurant as a group and ate together, but were caught after a citizen reported them.

A citizen who witnessed this said, "I was very disappointed to see public officials gathering and not following the quarantine rules," and explained, "They sat by pushing together about five tables, and since there were many people, those who couldn't sit there sat next to them."

They initially reserved a place for more than 20 people, and it was investigated that 22 people, including the eupjang (head of the town), dined together.

The quarantine authorities prohibit groups of more than five people from entering a restaurant and sitting separately at tables.

Boryeong City decided to impose fines on the participants of the meal and the restaurant owner for violating the quarantine rules.

This is not the first time that the public service sector has been caught violating the quarantine measure of 'no gatherings of five or more people.'

Earlier, in Jeonnam, 17 people including members of the Gwangyang City Council and staff were fined after dining together at a restaurant, and it was revealed through the use of business promotion expenses that group meals were held at Gwangju Dong-gu Office and Nam-gu Office, prompting the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to conduct an audit.