Seoul City to Conduct Special Crackdown on Drug Use in Entertainment Venues in August... Business Suspension and Information Disclosure for Violations

Joint Special Task Force Formed by 51 Agencies Including City, Districts, and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency
Responding to Narcotics in Entertainment Venues Aligned with Food Sanitation Act Amendments
Strict Punishment and Disclosure of Business Names Upon Violation... "Narcotics Are Deadly Weapons"

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will conduct a comprehensive crackdown on narcotics at over 4,000 entertainment establishments, including club-type pubs, throughout Seoul during the month of August. Entertainment venues found violating the law will face strong administrative sanctions such as business suspension, and details including the establishment's name, location, and violations will be fully disclosed.

According to Seoul City on the 8th, this crackdown involves 51 administrative and judicial agencies, including the city's Civil Life Judicial Police Bureau, 25 autonomous districts, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and local police stations. They will form and deploy a special task force of about 360 personnel to conduct inspections targeting more than 4,000 entertainment venues across Seoul.

This crackdown follows the amendment and enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act on the 7th, which now allows for strong administrative sanctions such as business suspension against entertainment operators involved in narcotics-related violations. Prior to this amendment, only criminal penalties under the Narcotics Control Act were imposed, allowing entertainment businesses to continue operating.

Seoul City noted that according to investigations by the National Police Agency, narcotics offenders related to entertainment venues have increased 3.6 times over the past four years (193 in 2020 → 686 in 2023), and that individuals in their 20s and 30s accounted for more than 50% of all narcotics offenders (57% in 2022, 52% in 2023), indicating a need for focused management of clubs and similar venues popular among younger generations.

Accordingly, the Food Policy Division of Seoul City will oversee the overall management of this special crackdown, while the Safety Investigation Division (Civil Life Judicial Police Bureau) will focus on identifying suspected narcotics cases, gambling rooms, and youth access inspections. Autonomous districts will conduct hygiene inspections regarding facility standards under the Food Sanitation Act and compliance by operators, and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and local police stations will carry out narcotics crackdowns (use, sale, mediation, and provision of locations).

During the crackdown period, establishments found violating regulations will face strict administrative measures, and their violation details (name, location, violation content, etc.) will be publicly disclosed. Furthermore, even after August, hygiene inspections and narcotics prevention checks at entertainment venues will be continuously conducted weekly in cooperation with judicial agencies. In addition, Seoul City will promote and educate all entertainment venues to establish the 'Triple Defense System against Narcotics in Entertainment Facilities,' which has been underway since June. This triple defense system means establishing a three-layered framework for all entertainment venues to voluntarily block narcotics entry, conduct self-inspections, and provide medical guidance.

Kim Tae-hee, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Citizen Health Bureau, stated, "Through this special narcotics crackdown at entertainment venues, we will eliminate narcotics-related violations in club-type pubs and similar establishments. Once curiosity leads to trying narcotics, it can become another weapon threatening life, so it must never be encountered even once."