Lee Jae-myung Issues Emergency Administrative Order for Infection Tests and Interpersonal Contact Prohibition for Those Who Visited Itaewon Clubs

– Free testing for Gyeonggi residents who visited Itaewon/Nonhyun areas even if the clubs or sleeping room in question were not visited
– Gyeonggi Province devises measures to prevent discrimination against sexual minorities

○ Governor Lee Jae-myung held an emergency press conference on May 10 to issue an emergency administrative order regarding the Itaewon club cluster infection.
– Those who visited any of the 6 affected clubs in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, or the Black Sleeping Room in Nonhyun-dong, Gangnam-gu, after April 29 who live, reside, work in or are otherwise connected to Gyeonggi Province must undergo COVID-19 testing and abstain from interpersonal contact
– Administrative order prohibits gatherings at bars, pubs and dance clubs within Gyeonggi Province for two weeks

With the spread of the COVID-19 cluster infection centered on the Itaewon clubs in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung has issued an emergency administrative order prohibiting interpersonal contact by and mandating infection tests for those who entered the related businesses. In addition, this administrative order prohibits gatherings at all clubs including bars, pubs and dance clubs in the province for two weeks.

During an emergency press conference held on May 10, Governor Lee Jae-myung said, “With the COVID-19 cluster infection spreading from the Itaewon clubs in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Gyeonggi Province is implementing comprehensive measures to stop the infection from spreading, including the formation of an Immediate Response Team to conduct an in-depth epidemiological investigation, the performance of a complete enumeration survey, and the disinfection of related facilities.”

Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province has ordered COVID-19 tests for and prohibited interpersonal contacts by those who visited the related sites, including the clubs and sleeping room located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, that were visited by COVID-19-infected individuals.

Subject to the administrative order are individuals who visited any of the 6 clubs (King Club, Queen, Trunk, The Fountain, Soho, H.I.M) in Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, or the Black Sleeping Room after April 29 and who live, reside, work in or have other connections to Gyeonggi Province. These individuals must go to a clinic as soon as possible to receive a COVID-19 screening test.

The subject individuals are prohibited from engaging in interpersonal contact during a period from the last day of entry at an affected site up to a maximum of two weeks until the individual is confirmed to be uninfected. In addition, if any person is deemed by quarantine authorities as having come in ‘close contact’ with an infected individual, they may be subject to a separate quarantine order.

Due to difficulties in specifying subjects of the order, Governor Lee explained that notice of the administrative order is being made through press conferences, media reports, gubernatorial and provincial SNS channels, and disaster text messages.

Due to difficulties in specifying subjects of the order, Governor Lee explained that notice of the administrative order is being made through press conferences, media reports, gubernatorial and provincial SNS channels, and disaster text messages.

Governor Lee said, “In this period, free examinations can be conducted without distinguishing visitors to the clubs or sleeping room in question from ordinary citizens.” He added, “Please respond quickly to the call for COVID-19 testing before this period ends and abstain from interpersonal contact, considering that access to the clubs or sleeping room will be confirmed during the epidemiological investigation of those infected for the first time.”

Provincial authorities explained that they have created conditions in which sexual minorities can be examined without fear of persecution, and that Gyeonggi Province has devised quarantine solutions to prevent discrimination against sexual minorities.

The administrative order is based on an epidemiological investigation in accordance with the Act on the Prevention and Management of Infectious Diseases (Article 18, Clause 3), encompassing health examinations (Article 46) and the prohibition of personal contact (Article 47). Violation of the order could result in imprisonment for up to two years and a fine of KRW 20 million.

Governor Lee also ordered the two-week closure of a total of 5,734 entertainment establishments (clubs, room salons, standing bars, cabarets, singing clubs, singing bars, etc.), including 5,536 related operations as well as 133 pubs and 65 dance clubs in Gyeonggi Province, from 6:00 p.m. on May 10 to midnight on May 24.

These facilities must be shut down immediately with violations by either business owners or users being subject to fines of up to KRW 3 million under the Act on the Prevention and Management of Infectious Diseases.

“Due to the nature of club entrants in Itaewon, secondary infections are likely to occur at their workplaces, schools, counties and hospitals. It is no exaggeration to say that the prevention of a large third round of infections in the future depends on compliance with daily quarantine rules,” Governor Lee said, adding, “I ask you once again to actively cooperate with the policies of quarantine authorities, including personal quarantine rules.”

Meanwhile, a total of 14 confirmed cases (3 in Yongin, 2 in Anyang, 3 in Seongnam, 2 in Goyang, and 1 each in Namyangju, Bucheon, Uiwang, and Suwon) including the first confirmed cases in Gyeonggi Province were being examined as of 12:00 p.m. on May 10.