Gyeonggi Province Issues Administrative Order to Suspend Operations of Sampling Booths in 925 Large Retail Facilities Starting from the 1st

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 1st that it has issued an administrative order restricting gatherings at sampling booths within large retail facilities in the province until a separate lifting of the measure.

This is an additional measure by the province in accordance with the government's implementation of strengthened Level 2 social distancing.

The facilities subject to the gathering ban include sampling booths operated at 925 locations in total: 107 large marts, 23 specialty stores, 10 department stores, 44 shopping centers, 10 complex shopping malls, 113 large-scale stores, and 618 mid-sized stores including corporate supermarkets.

These businesses may conduct general sales activities during the period in question, but the operation of sampling booths and sampling activities are prohibited.

In case of violation, fines of up to 3 million won may be imposed on business owners under the 'Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act,' and administrative fines of up to 100,000 won may be imposed on users. Administrative fines will be imposed after a guidance period starting from October 13.

A provincial official stated, "We have expanded the scope of administrative order targets in accordance with strengthened social distancing," adding "While this will cause hardship and inconvenience, we hope you will understand this as an unavoidable measure to enhance quarantine effectiveness."