Violation of Social Distancing and Unauthorized Operations... 1,000 People Caught at Illegal Entertainment Venues in 'Quarantine Blind Spots'

Joint Crackdown by Police and Local Governments After One Week
Full Business Ban in Seoul Metropolitan Area and Busan Starting Today

As the government banned gatherings at entertainment facilities in areas under social distancing level 2, including the Seoul metropolitan area and Busan, starting from the 12th, here is the scene of the Hongdae club district in Seoul on the 11th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] As the police launched a massive crackdown on illegal entertainment establishments that have fallen into the 'blind spots' of COVID-19 quarantine measures, more than 1,000 violators were caught in just one week.

According to the National Police Agency on the 12th, from the 5th to the 11th of this month, the police deployed 2,113 officers and conducted joint inspections with local governments on 10,233 entertainment establishments nationwide. During this process, 173 cases of illegal activities, including violations of quarantine guidelines, and 1,095 individuals were caught.

By type, violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act such as disobeying the gathering ban order accounted for 109 cases and 920 people; violations of the Food Sanitation Act were 21 cases and 100 people; violations of the Music Industry Act were 42 cases and 60 people. Additionally, 1 case involving 15 people was caught for violating the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Prostitution.

In Seoul, on the 10th at around 9:25 p.m., 208 people including business owners were caught at a general restaurant in Gangnam-gu that had installed a stage, DJ box, and special lighting, operating without a license and failing to enforce social distancing among users.

Also, on the 9th at around 11:20 p.m., at an entertainment bar in Wanju-gun, Jeonbuk, 49 people including the owner and customers were caught operating past the restricted hours after turning off the signboard lights and locking the door.

The police will continue related crackdowns until the 18th of this month. The main targets for enforcement are ▲ violations of gathering ban orders ▲ unlicensed operations ▲ reopening during suspension due to quarantine guideline violations ▲ violations of operating hour restrictions ▲ failure to prepare electronic entry logs, etc. During this period, the police plan to actively utilize mobile units for enforcement and visible focused patrols.

Meanwhile, as COVID-19 cluster infections spread through entertainment establishments, the quarantine authorities issued an administrative order from this day to completely ban the operation of entertainment establishments in the metropolitan area and Busan.