Even as COVID-19 cases surge in the 4th wave... Entertainment bars remain 'packed'

Illegal Business Despite Social Distancing
63 Caught at Samsung-dong Entertainment Venues in Gangnam
Some Establishments Accepted Only Reserved Guests via Membership

The police are cracking down on a nightlife bar in Seocho-gu that was secretly operating by allowing entry only to customers who made reservations through a membership system.
Photo by Seocho Police Station, Seoul

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Despite the government's social distancing measures, entertainment bars operating illegally are being repeatedly caught by the police. Although the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic continues, entertainment bars are still bustling with activity.

According to the police on the 25th, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul apprehended a 20-year-old owner, Mr. A, along with employees and customers totaling 63 people at an entertainment bar in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, on the 21st at around 10:50 PM for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

Currently, in the metropolitan area, entertainment facilities are prohibited from operating under the government's Level 4 social distancing measures. However, reports of "entertainment bars operating" were received by the police. Upon dispatch, the police, together with the fire department, opened a locked entrance and confirmed the illegal operation.

On the 20th, 37 people including the owner and customers were caught by the police at an entertainment bar in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, which was illegally operating in a room format in violation of the assembly ban order and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

While continuing their investigation, the police confirmed at around 10:55 PM on the 20th that customers were entering and exiting. They requested the establishment to open the door, but when ignored, they forcibly opened it with the support of the fire department and entered. Police officers were also stationed at expected escape routes.

At the time of entry, only the owner and employees were inside the establishment, and they stated that they were closing and cleaning up after business hours. However, the police found unfinished drinks and side dishes in each room and judged that customers had escaped via the emergency stairs. Eventually, after a search, 34 people including employees and customers were found in a storage room on the 6th basement floor emergency stairs and were reported to the district office for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

An entertainment bar in Seocho-gu, which operated secretly by admitting only customers who reserved through a membership system, was also caught by the police.

After receiving intelligence that the establishment was operating illegally, the police monitored employee and customer movements at around 10:40 PM on the 20th and conducted a crackdown at around 11 PM. When they attempted to escape by locking the entrance, the police forcibly opened it and entered, catching 15 owners and employees hiding in the emergency exit along with 18 customers.