Gyeonggi Province Extends Two-Week Ban on Group Gatherings for Direct Sales Businesses Starting 18th

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun] As COVID-19 infection cases from unpredictable locations in the Seoul metropolitan area continue to increase, Gyeonggi Province has extended a ban on group gatherings at direct sales business facilities for two additional weeks. This is the fifth extension since the first administrative order was issued on June 20.

The province issued an administrative order on the 15th for a two-week period from the 18th to the 30th, implementing an 'extension of the ban on group gatherings for direct sales businesses to prevent the spread of COVID-19' targeting direct sales companies within the province.

The ban applies to 4,849 facilities in total, including 10 multi-level marketing companies, 755 sponsored direct sales businesses, and 4,084 direct sales shops. During the designated period, these businesses may conduct normal one-on-one sales activities, but are prohibited from holding group promotional events, group training sessions, group sales promotions, and other collective activities.

Violators may face fines of up to 3 million won for both business owners and users under the 'Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act,' and all quarantine-related expenses including testing, investigation, and treatment costs arising from confirmed cases due to violations may be subject to cost recovery claims.

A provincial official stated, "Recent cases of community transmission have surged, and incidents of close contact among users related to direct sales businesses and similar activities continue to occur, so we are extending the administrative order to prevent this."

Meanwhile, the province issued 'gathering restriction orders' to all religious facilities including churches, PC bangs, cafes, bathhouses, and private education institutions from today through the 30th, contingent on compliance with prevention guidelines.