Number of nighttime entertainment spots falls amid economic slump

The number of room salons, night clubs and other entertainment spots in South Korea declined for a third straight year in 2011, affected by the prolonged economic slump, the country's tax agency said Sunday.

According to data by the National Tax Service, the number of people running such nighttime entertainment spots came to 6,548 last year nationwide, down 10.25 percent or 748 from a year earlier.

This marked the third straight year of declines since 2009, when it stood at 7,491. The figures are based on the number of people subject to a special consumption tax on running such businesses.

The decline is attributable to the prolonged economic slump, which has led to less spending, experts said. (Yonhap)