Posting business hours and information on SNS for promotion
Sharing information on illegal sites using overseas IPs
Entertainment venues vulnerable to infection due to droplets and contact with unspecified many
Illegal entertainment establishments continue to promote illegal operations using illegal websites and social networking services (SNS). / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases originating from entertainment establishments in Busan surpasses 400, signs of a full-scale '4th wave' are emerging. However, concerns are growing that the 4th wave might become a reality as some entertainment venues are reportedly promoting themselves through illegal websites and social networking services (SNS).
Recently, one entertainment establishment posted on Twitter and Facebook, introducing their business hours as "7 PM to 2 PM the next day," along with detailed contact information for reservations and the exact address of the venue.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that around 400 entertainment establishments in regions such as Busan, Gyeongnam, and Ulsan, where recent cluster infections occurred, are advertising illegally through online sites. These venues post photos, business information, and operating hours in the form of posts on these sites.
Additionally, these sites operate on a membership and tier system, supporting community functions where members can share information related to illegally operated entertainment establishments.
In particular, these illegal sites are mostly set up using overseas IPs to evade crackdowns, frequently changing their site addresses or names, showing a cautious and strategic approach.
The Seoul metropolitan area and Busan have been implementing strengthened Level 2 social distancing measures since the 12th, prohibiting the operation of entertainment facilities and holdem pubs. / Photo by Yonhap News
As a result, concerns are mounting that illegal entertainment establishments could undermine quarantine policies. Due to the nature of the industry, workers operate in confined spaces serving an unspecified number of customers, with a high possibility of droplet (saliva) transmission and poor ventilation, making these facilities vulnerable to infection.
In the past month, the cumulative number of confirmed cases linked to entertainment establishments in Busan has exceeded 400. According to Busan City, as of the 17th, the total number of confirmed cases related to entertainment facilities in Busan stands at 460, with more than half?283 people?confirmed to have been infected through contact with workers or patrons of these establishments.
In this situation, an increase in illegal facilities evading crackdowns means a higher risk of cluster infections. Especially, illegal facilities are likely to neglect quarantine guidelines such as mask-wearing and visitor logs, raising concerns about 'hidden infections.'
The police plan to strengthen inspections of entertainment facilities in cooperation with local governments. The Busan Police Agency announced on the 19th that from the 2nd to the 18th, they inspected 2,115 entertainment establishments in Busan together with the city authorities.
During this inspection, the police cracked down on 12 cases of violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, including entertainment venue owners and patrons who secretly operated businesses by locking doors and serving only reserved customers.
Meanwhile, since the 12th, the metropolitan area and Busan have implemented strengthened social distancing Level 2 measures, issuing assembly bans on entertainment venues such as nightclubs, karaoke bars, hunting pubs, and hold'em pubs.
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