Gyeonggi Province Launches Intensive Investigation into Illegal Operating Practices at General Restaurants Related to COVID-19 Prevention in Suwon and Other Areas

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province will conduct an intensive investigation into illegal operating practices at general restaurants in the province from August 2 to 6 to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The investigation follows reports that some establishments have registered as general restaurants but are illegally operating in the form of entertainment bars while violating quarantine guidelines.

The investigation targets 124 establishments in four regions—Suwon, Seongnam, Ansan, and Goyang—where many general restaurants operate in the form of 70s and 80s nostalgia venues and live performances, conducted by Gyeonggi Province's Special Judicial Police Division.

The main investigation focuses on ▲operating practices that allow customers to sing by installing sound and music accompaniment facilities ▲hiring entertainment staff to provide entertainment hospitality services ▲violations of Phase 4 social distancing quarantine guidelines, including bans on gatherings of three or more people.

Operating practices that allow customers to sing by installing sound and music accompaniment facilities are subject to imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 30 million won in accordance with the Food Sanitation Act.

Violations of the ban on gatherings of three or more people result in administrative fines of 1.5 million won for business operators and 100,000 won for users.

Yun Tae-wan, head of Gyeonggi Province's Special Judicial Police Division, said, "We plan to respond strongly with a zero-tolerance principle against violations of the Food Sanitation Act and Infectious Disease Prevention Act in order to establish fair business practices and prevent the spread of COVID-19."