CRACKDOWN ON BUSINESSES AMID NEW GUIDELINES

[Anchor Lead]

Korean health authorities have conducted their first crackdown in the Seoul metropolitan area to check if Level 2 social distancing measures are being adhered to. While most of places seem to be abiding by the guidelines, some were found to be negligent in keeping visitor logs.

[Pkg]

Officials enter a bar near Gangnam Station in Seoul.

[Soundbite] "Hello. We are Seoul City Hall officials. We're here to check if you follow prevention rules."

They check if the staff and customers are wearing masks.

[Soundbite] "Make sure to check if your customers wear masks when going outside to smoke. (We ask them to wear masks when moving around.)"

Facilities measuring more than 50 square meters are required to keep electronic visitor logs, but some places refuse to comply.

[Soundbite] "Can I take a look at your electronic or handwritten visitor log? (I don't know anything about that.) Don't you have an electronic visitor log? (No. I don't know anything about that.)"

Although there are nearly 20 people inside, only 12 names have been written down in the visitor log for the whole day. The distance between the tables is less than a meter, and maskless customers are not asked to wear masks. Most of the 406 places inspected in eight districts of Seoul were found to follow COVID-19 prevention rules. Violations were detected in four facilities. The crackdown also revealed that people tend to go home earlier now as restaurants and cafes must close at 9 p.m. With Level 2 social distancing measures in place, the Gangnam Station area, one of the most crowded areas in the capital, now looks deserted after 9 p.m. Almost all restaurants and bars are closed. Facilities caught violating rules face gathering bans.

[Soundbite] LEE WOONG-JIN(SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOV'T) : "We will transfer the documents to the local government, and it will issue a gathering ban."

The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to carry out intensive crackdowns in the Gangnam and Hongik University areas in the next two weeks while Level 2 restrictions are in place.