Hold'em Pub Also Prohibited for Youth Entry... Gwangjin-gu Joint Crackdown on Youth Harmful Environments

Joint Inspection Around Konkuk University Station for Youth Month
Room Cafes Near Konkuk and Newly Designated Hold'em Pubs Restricted
Gwangjin District Office, Gwangjin Police Station, and Youth Harmful Environment Monitoring Team of 30+ Conduct Intensive Inspection

Gwangjin-gu (District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) conducted a joint crackdown on harmful environments for youth on the 28th in celebration of Youth Month. This operation was carried out through cooperation among various organizations to prevent juvenile delinquency in advance and to create a healthy social environment.

The joint crackdown targeted room cafes, multi-rooms, and holdem pubs around Konkuk University Station, areas known for many youth-harmful establishments and places where youth tend to stray.

In particular, the crackdown included holdem pubs newly designated as youth-restricted establishments by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family on the 17th. The Ministry had officially announced that holdem pubs and holdem cafes, which may promote gambling addiction and compulsive gambling, are prohibited for youth entry and employment to protect young people.

Accordingly, the district formed a joint inspection team consisting of the Gwangjin Police Station and the Youth Harmful Environment Monitoring Group to focus on guiding and inspecting room cafes and holdem pubs around Konkuk University Station.

They checked for ▲display of youth-harmful establishment signs ▲violations of youth entry and employment bans ▲violations of the Youth Protection Act such as selling alcohol and tobacco to minors. They thoroughly inspected whether youth were actually entering or being employed where restrictions apply.

The district will continue to prevent youth delinquency through joint public-private-police campaigns and patrols. If violations of the Youth Protection Act are detected, strong measures such as correction orders and fines will be imposed.

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, stated, “We will strengthen crackdowns and preventive activities on youth-harmful establishments that are socially problematic,” and added, “We will do our best to ensure that youth are protected from harmful environments and can grow up healthily.”