Even Before BTS Comeback, 18 Lodgings Already Caught Violating Rules

[The Financial News] Ahead of the BTS comeback concert, a number of lodging businesses around Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul have been caught violating regulations. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to closely monitor them through inspections and citizen reports up to the day of the concert.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 8th that the Special Judicial Police Bureau for Citizens' Livelihood carried out unannounced inspections from February 25 to March 4 of 83 general and tourist hotels in Jongno District and Jung District. Inspectors checked whether room rate boards and business registration certificates were posted and whether posted rates were being observed, and found 18 lodging businesses in violation.
In line with the Korea Heritage Service's decision to grant conditional approval for BTS to use sites such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has been inspecting lodging facilities and implementing measures to stabilize room rates in Jongno District and Jung District since January. From February 2 to 4, honorary public health monitors reviewed 569 establishments and found many that had not posted room rate boards, prompting this intensive crackdown.
Under the Public Health Control Act, lodging business operators must display their business registration certificate inside the premises and post a room rate board at the reception desk, and they must adhere to the rates shown on that board. However, the 18 businesses that were caught had been operating without posting either the business registration certificate or the room rate board.
In one case, an unmanned establishment referred to as Business A was operating without posting either a room rate board or a business registration certificate. Business B was found to have never posted a room rate board since it opened. In addition, Businesses C and D, which share a lobby but are registered separately on different floors, were both caught for failing to post room rate boards. One operator was also found running three different establishments at separate locations without posting room rate boards at the reception desks of any of them.
The Special Judicial Police Bureau for Citizens' Livelihood of the Seoul Metropolitan Government will open criminal cases against the 18 businesses and proceed with investigations. Depending on the outcome, the establishments may face up to six months in prison or fines of up to 5 million won. The city also plans to request that Jongno District and Jung District, which have jurisdiction, impose administrative sanctions on businesses caught for failing to post room rate boards. Administrative measures range from a first-stage corrective order, to a five-day business suspension for a second violation, a ten-day suspension for a third, and ultimately closure of the business for a fourth violation.
Until the day of the BTS comeback concert on the 21st, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will receive citizen reports through Seoul Eungdapso on illegal lodging operations in officetels and other facilities, failure to post room rate boards, and non-compliance with posted rates. If key evidence is submitted with a report, the city may award a reward of up to 200 million won after review.
Byun Kyung-ok, Director of the Special Judicial Police Bureau for Citizens' Livelihood at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "We will continue intensive inspections and investigations into illegal operations at lodging facilities until the day of the concert so that foreign tourists visiting to see the BTS comeback performance do not suffer any harm or inconvenience in Seoul."

ronia@fnnews.com Lee Seol-young Reporter