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Busan Metropolitan City to Conduct Intensive Crackdown on Youth-Harmful Environments During the College Scholastic Ability Test and Year-End Season

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will conduct an “Intensive Crackdown on Youth-Harmful Environments” from November 13, 2025, to January 15, 2026. The operation will target major areas such as busy downtown districts, academy zones, and tourist attractions including Gwangalli Beach.

This crackdown has been organized to address the heightened risk of youth exposure to harmful environments during the post-exam period and the festive year-end season. The inspection will focus on youth-restricted establishments such as poker (Texas Hold’em) pubs, convenience stores, tobacco and e-cigarette retailers, singing rooms (noraebang), entertainment and dance bars, and adult goods shops.

Key inspection items include:

• ●Whether minors are entering or being employed in businesses where such entry or employment is prohibited;

• ●The sale or provision of youth-harmful substances such as alcohol and tobacco to minors;

• ●Failure to post mandatory signage indicating youth entry or employment restrictions; and

• ●Entry of minors into singing rooms without designated youth rooms.

Major types of youth entry/employment prohibited establishments:

• ●Youth entry and employment prohibited businesses: entertainment bars, dance bars, video rooms, singing rooms (except those with youth-only rooms), dance schools, dance halls, gambling facilities, telephone rooms, video call rooms, adult product shops, etc.

• ●Youth employment prohibited businesses: ticket cafés, pubs, soju bars, cafés serving alcohol, lodging facilities, barber or beauty shops, public baths with massage rooms or private booths, record or video retail/rental rooms, small theaters, general game rooms, tobacco retailers, and comic book cafés.

The city stated that any establishment found violating the law will face strict measures, including criminal prosecution and administrative sanctions by the relevant local authorities.

If a business allows minors to enter restricted premises, sells harmful substances (alcohol, tobacco, etc.), or fails to post required signage on youth restrictions, it is punishable by up to two years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 20 million won. Business owners who employ minors in prohibited establishments may face up to three years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 30 million won.

Mayor Park Heong-joon emphasized, “Busan Metropolitan City will conduct intensive crackdowns on youth-harmful establishments during the year-end season to ensure that young people—the future generation—can grow up in a healthy and safe environment.”

Meanwhile, the Public Health Investigation Team of the Special Judicial Police Division (Tel: 051-888-3101~3107) is currently accepting public reports of violations of the Youth Protection Act.