'Helper Enters Late at Night'... 158 People Caught Violating Quarantine Rules in Gyeongnam

A nightlife establishment in Geoje was caught violating quarantine rules by operating past 10 PM. Photo by Gyeongnam Police Agency

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju Cheol-in] Including the Chuseok holiday, 158 people were caught violating quarantine rules in Gyeongnam over the past two weeks.

The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency announced that, together with city and county authorities, they inspected 735 entertainment establishments from the 13th to the 26th and cracked down on 158 people at 29 locations. During this period, there were 519 reports of quarantine rule violations, averaging 37.1 reports per day.

Among the major crackdown cases, around 11:10 p.m. on the 16th, a pub in Gohyeon-dong, Geoje-si, was caught operating past the business hours while the door was locked. Observing women who appeared to be hostesses entering one or two at a time late at night, authorities conducted a raid when the door was slightly open and apprehended 21 people including the owner and employees.

Also, around 12:20 a.m. on the 18th, police responded to a report of a dispute between customers at a soju bar in Mujeon-dong, Tongyeong-si. One customer was booked on assault charges, and a total of seven people including the victim, the owner, and four other companions were caught violating quarantine rules.

At a coin karaoke room in Chungmugong-dong, Jinju-si, three teenage female students were caught singing past business hours around 11:40 p.m. on the 20th. They stated that they sang because the door was open, and the owner and employees were also apprehended.

All those caught will be fined for violating quarantine rules. In Gyeongnam, social distancing level 3 continues until October 3. Business hours for entertainment facilities and restaurants are until 10 p.m.