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| A handwritten visitor log to track COVID-19 cases is shown at a restaurant in western Seoul in this April 5 photo. Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon |
By Lee Hae-rin
A restaurant owner in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, is being investigated by prosecutors for allegedly contacting a female customer after obtaining her phone number from the visitor register, a mandatory log the government requires store owners to compile to track COVID-19 cases.
The Asan police said, Monday, they had referred the case to prosecutors, asking them to indict the restaurant owner, whose name was withheld, for violating the Personal Information Protection Act.
The victim visited the restaurant with her two children in July. She filled in the handwritten visitor log because there was no QR code scanner for digital check-ins. After the visit, she received a message from an unknown number that read, "I want to be good friends with you," according to the police.
To help health officials track the spread of coronavirus infections, all businesses here, including restaurants, are obligated to document every visitor digitally or manually and record their personal information, including phone number and area of residence.
When the woman did not respond to the text message, the restaurant owner allegedly sent more messages via Kakao Talk saying, "Did I do something wrong?" and "Did you go to work?" the next day.
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| Seen is the text message record between the female customer and the restaurant owner who wrote "I only had good intentions," and "I just wanted to be good friends with you." Screenshot from SBS |
The victim warned him that abuse of visitors' information is illegal, but he replied: "I just had good intentions" and "Let's be good friends."
When he continued contacting her, the woman reported him to the police. During police questioning, he claimed she intentionally gave him her number and that he wanted to help her because she is a working mother.
Police said that they found no evidence to support the restaurant owner's claim and sent the case to the prosecution.
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