Gwangju Immigration Office Conducts Guidance Activities for Foreigners Involved in Underground Club Group Parties

Police and Local Governments Jointly Conduct Guidance with Related Agencies

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] The Gwangju Immigration and Foreigners Office (Director Lim Chaeim) announced on the 6th that on the 5th, it conducted guidance activities at an underground pub near a foreigner-dense area in Sanjeong-dong, Gwangsan-gu, together with the police, local governments, and related agencies.

The Gwangju Immigration and Foreigners Office obtained prior information that many foreigners, including Mongolian nationals, would rent an underground pub and hold group parties until 5 a.m. as social distancing measures in the Gwangju area were lowered to level 1.5, easing business hour restrictions.

Accordingly, together with the police, local governments, and related agencies, they visited the club to conduct an on-site investigation of violations of quarantine rules and informed the foreigners present about free special COVID-19 testing for foreigners and exemption from the obligation to notify illegal stay. They also ordered the dispersal of groups of five or more people.

A representative of the Gwangju Immigration and Foreigners Office stated, “This guidance activity was conducted to prevent similar cases like the Itaewon club cluster infection amid heightened social concern about recent foreigner cluster infections.” They added, “Violations of quarantine rules will be confirmed by local governments and fines will be imposed. We will continue to guide and inspect foreigner-dense areas to prevent foreigner misconduct in advance.”