'Late-Night Illegal Operations' Persist Amid 4th Wave... 11 Entertainment Venues in Gyeonggi-do Caught
Earlier Controversy Over Monks and Baseball Players Drinking Party
On the 23rd, customers and employees were caught hiding in a secret room of an entertainment establishment in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Gyeonggi Bukbu Police Agency
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] "When will the number of confirmed cases finally decrease?"
As the spread of COVID-19 shows no signs of slowing down, various violations of quarantine rules are occurring across the country, causing concern. Some entertainment bars are ignoring the government's gathering ban orders and secretly operating during late-night hours, while citizens are also repeatedly violating quarantine rules by holding group drinking parties until dawn.
Some voices point out the lax quarantine awareness and warn that if such violations continue, the spread could become uncontrollable.
Recently, illegal entertainment bars that violated the gathering ban administrative orders and secretly operated late at night were caught, sparking public outrage. These establishments reportedly turned off their signboard lights and locked their entrance doors to avoid police crackdowns while accepting reservations and operating.
The Southern Gyeonggi Provincial Autonomous Police Committee announced on the 25th that on the night of the 23rd, they conducted crackdowns on about 1,700 multi-use facilities mainly operating at night, such as entertainment bars, karaoke bars, and singing practice rooms, together with the police, and caught 23 people including 11 business owners and customers who were illegally operating. Notably, one establishment reportedly hid employees and customers in a secret room behind a large refrigerator when the crackdown team arrived, causing controversy.
On the 19th, it was revealed that monks from a famous temple in Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, held a drinking party amid the spread of COVID-19. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, it was recently revealed that some citizens violated the gathering ban order by holding drinking parties, causing public uproar. In particular, on the 19th, at a temple lodging facility in Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do, it was confirmed that a total of eight people, including seven monks and one lodging facility owner within the temple, gathered to drink and dine. It was reported that they were not properly wearing masks at the time.
Earlier, on the 5th, some professional baseball players were caught holding a drinking party in a hotel room and faced severe criticism. At that time, four NC Dinos players?Park Seokmin, Lee Myunggi, Kwon Heedong, and Park Minwoo?held a drinking party with two female acquaintances at their Seoul away lodging.
Subsequently, three NC players and two women were infected with COVID-19, leading to the suspension of the league. Furthermore, it was revealed that the women who had drinking parties with the NC players had also held drinking parties with players from the Hanwha Eagles and Kiwoom Heroes at the same hotel the day before, intensifying the scandal.
On the 25th, citizens waiting for their turn to be tested at the temporary COVID-19 screening clinic in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]
As such quarantine violations continue, citizens' anxiety persists. With new confirmed cases exceeding 1,000 daily, there are concerns that one person's careless quarantine awareness could lead to a mass infection.
Office worker Oh (28) said, "Many people, including self-employed individuals, are struggling because of COVID-19. Medical staff must feel so frustrated with the increasing number of confirmed cases. I understand the fatigue from ongoing social distancing, but I hope people refrain from private gatherings for the sake of others who are suffering."
University student Jeon (25) also said, "I was very angry when I heard that baseball players held a drinking party at a hotel recently. Public figures need to have a higher sense of responsibility than ordinary people. They should lead by example in following quarantine guidelines. The selfishness of a few can nullify all efforts."
Some have even caused public outrage by violating quarantine rules and reacting as if there was no problem. A man in his 50s reportedly cursed when a staff member at a chicken shop near Isu Station in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 25th asked him to go outside because only takeout was allowed after 10 p.m. The intoxicated man was also reportedly not wearing a mask.
Experts pointed out the need for sanctions against those who violate quarantine rules. Professor Eom Jung-sik, an infectious disease specialist at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, said, "If there are no sanctions against those who violate quarantine, those who comply may feel frustrated. Since the spread of COVID-19 is expected to continue for the time being, it is necessary to refrain from gatherings for social purposes," he added.
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