Jeonnam Province, 6 Establishments Including Entertainment Venues Violating Quarantine Rules Detected

Accusations and Fines... Strengthening Joint Inspections by Province and City-County

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province announced on the 2nd that as a result of intensive inspections of entertainment facilities, it detected six places including entertainment bars and restaurants over the course of one week and took actions such as filing complaints and imposing fines.

With the fourth wave of COVID-19 leading to the elevation of social distancing to level 3, the province, in cooperation with city and county governments, is conducting inspections of 30,512 establishments including entertainment and karaoke bars, and pubs and other restaurants selling alcoholic beverages, checking compliance with quarantine rules until the 8th.

The inspection involved 60 employees from the province and city/county governments and 50 food hygiene inspectors from city/county offices, focusing mainly on compliance with business hours, management of visitor logs, mask-wearing by workers, and adherence to capacity limits per area.

Establishments violating quarantine rules will face strict measures under the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, applying a zero-tolerance policy including complaints, fines (first offense 1.5 million KRW), and suspension of operations (first offense 10 days).

Since inspections began on the 27th of last month, three entertainment bars that violated operating hour restrictions have been reported.

Fines were imposed on three restaurants that violated quarantine rules such as workers not wearing masks and negligence in managing visitor logs.

Kang Young-gu, Director of the Health and Welfare Bureau of Jeonnam Province, said, “This inspection is a proactive measure to renew the relaxed quarantine atmosphere caused by the prolonged COVID-19 situation and to block the rapidly increasing spread of COVID-19. We will continue to conduct inspections of multi-use establishments near tourist spots such as beaches to ensure the safety of residents.”

Meanwhile, since the 27th of last month, under the level 3 social distancing quarantine rules, entertainment facilities such as entertainment and karaoke bars, clubs, and colatecs are restricted from operating from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. the next day, and general restaurants and cafes are allowed only takeout and delivery during this time by administrative order.