Gyeonggi Province Bans All Entertainment Establishments Including Clubs for Two Weeks, Total of 5,734 Venues

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hoon, Reporter] As cluster infections of COVID-19 spread centered on clubs in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Gyeonggi Province has issued emergency administrative orders for infection testing and contact ban targeting visitors to related establishments. In addition, the province has issued a two-week gathering ban on all entertainment establishments including clubs, sensual bars, and karaoke clubs within Gyeonggi Province.

Governor Lee Jae-myeong of Gyeonggi Province held an emergency press conference on the 10th and stated, "As COVID-19 cluster infections spread centered on clubs in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Gyeonggi Province is deploying an immediate response team to conduct in-depth epidemiological investigations and is making full efforts to block infection spread including conducting comprehensive surveys and disinfection of relevant risk facilities."

Accordingly, the province first ordered COVID-19 infection testing and contact ban for visitors to clubs visited by confirmed cases and a sleeping room in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and related establishments.
Targets are people with addresses, residences, workplaces, or other connections in Gyeonggi Province who visited 6 clubs located in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul as of April 29th (including the 29th): 'KING CLUB, QUEEN, Trunk, THE FOUNTAIN, SOHO, H.I.M,' and Black Sleeping Room located in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu. Targeted individuals must undergo COVID-19 testing at a health center at the earliest possible time.
The contact ban is enforced from the day following the last visit to the relevant establishment for up to two weeks until non-infection is confirmed. Additionally, if classified as a close contact, there may be separate quarantine orders from quarantine authorities.

For people with addresses, residences, workplaces, or other connections in Gyeonggi Province who visited the Itaewon-dong area and Nonhyeon-dong area in Yongsan-gu, Seoul after April 29th, regardless of whether they visited the specific clubs and sleeping rooms, measures have been taken to allow free COVID-19 infection testing at health centers and screening clinics in Gyeonggi Province from the 11th to the 17th.

Governor Lee stated, "During this period, testing can be conducted free of charge without revealing whether you visited the relevant clubs or sleeping rooms, indistinguishable from ordinary citizens," and urged, "Please note that if infection spreads due to you, whether you visited will be confirmed in the epidemiological investigation of the initial infected person. Please promptly respond to COVID-19 infection testing and refrain from contact with others."

The province explained that this measure creates conditions for sexual minorities to be tested without hiding, noting that Gyeonggi Province is presenting quarantine solutions to prevent discrimination against sexual minorities.
These orders are based on epidemiological investigations (Article 18, Paragraph 3), health examinations (Article 46), and isolation and contact bans (Article 47) under the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act. Violations may result in imprisonment of up to 2 years or a fine of up to 20 million won, and if infection spreads due to violations of the order, related quarantine costs may be recovered.

Second, the province has issued a two-week gathering ban from 6 p.m. on the 10th to 24:00 on the 24th on all 5,536 entertainment establishments (clubs, room salons, stand bars, cabarets, karaoke clubs, karaoke bars, etc.) within the province, 133 sensual bars, and 65 karaoke clubs, for a total of 5,734 venues.
These facilities must cease operations immediately, and violations may result in fines of no more than 3 million won imposed on both business owners and patrons of the entertainment venues under the Infectious Disease Prevention Act.