All 5,734 Entertainment Establishments in Gyeonggi Province Including Clubs Banned from Gatherings for Two Weeks

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hoon] As COVID-19 cluster infections spread centered on clubs in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Gyeonggi Province issued an emergency administrative order for infection testing and person-to-person contact restriction targeting visitors to relevant establishments. Additionally, the province issued a two-week gathering ban on all entertainment establishments in the province including clubs, sensitive-themed bars, and karaoke clubs.

Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province held an emergency press conference on the 10th and said, “As COVID-19 cluster infections spread centered on clubs in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Gyeonggi Province has deployed an immediate response team to conduct in-depth epidemiological investigations, and is making an all-out effort to block infection spread by conducting comprehensive investigations and disinfection of relevant high-risk facilities,” he announced.

Accordingly, the province first ordered COVID-19 infection testing and person-to-person contact restrictions for visitors to clubs visited by confirmed cases and a sauna in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and other relevant establishments.
The targets are those with residence, domicile, workplace, or other connections in Gyeonggi Province who visited six clubs in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul from April 29 onwards (including the 29th): 'King Club (KING CLUB), Queen (QUEEN), Trunk (Trunk), The Fountain (THE FOUNTAIN), Soho (SOHO), and H.I.M (H.I.M)', and Black Sauna in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu. The targets should visit a health center and undergo COVID-19 testing at the earliest possible time.
The person-to-person contact restriction applies for up to two weeks from the day after the last visit to the establishment or until the absence of infection is confirmed, whichever comes first. Additionally, if classified as a close contact, there may be separate quarantine orders from quarantine authorities.

For those with residence, domicile, workplace, or other connections in Gyeonggi Province who visited the Itaewon-dong area and Nonhyeon-dong area in Yongsan-gu, Seoul from April 29 onwards, even if they did not visit the specific clubs and sauna, the province arranged for free COVID-19 infection testing at health centers and screening clinics in Gyeonggi Province from the 11th to the 17th.

The governor said, “During this period, free testing is available without disclosing whether you visited the relevant clubs or saunas, and without being distinguished from general citizens,” and “Please note that if infection spreads due to you, your visit history will be confirmed in the epidemiological investigation process of the initial case, so respond promptly to COVID-19 infection testing and avoid person-to-person contact.”

The province explained that this measure created conditions for sexual minorities to receive testing without stigma, noting that Gyeonggi Province has put forward an anti-discrimination quarantine solution for sexual minorities.
This order is based on epidemiological investigations (Article 18, Paragraph 3), health inspections (Article 46), and quarantine and person-to-person contact restrictions (Article 47) under the Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act. Violations can result in up to two years imprisonment or a fine of up to 20 million won, and if infection spreads due to violation of the order, related quarantine costs may be claimed for reimbursement.

Second, the province ordered a two-week gathering ban from 6 p.m. on the 10th to 11:59 p.m. on the 24th for a total of 5,734 establishments including 5,536 entertainment establishments in the province (clubs, room salons, stand bars, cabarets, karaoke clubs, karaoke bars, etc.), 133 sensitive-themed bars, and 65 karaoke clubs.
These facilities must immediately suspend operations, and violations may result in fines of up to 3 million won imposed on both business owners and users of the entertainment venues under the Infectious Disease Prevention Act.