30 Cases in First Month of COVID-19, Rapid Increase to 160 After Passing Through Shincheonji and Daenam Hospital

COVID-19, First Patient Confirmed at Incheon Airport on the 20th of Last Month
30 Cases Confirmed by the 16th of This Month... Increasing by About One Case per Day
144 Patients Linked to Shincheonji Daegu Church, 16 Patients at Cheongdo Daenam Hospital

On the 21st, when Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon announced the closure of Shincheonji churches in Seoul to prevent the spread of COVID-19, health center officials were seen leaving after completing disinfection at the Shincheonji Jesus Church of the Testimony of the Kingdom of God, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, Simon branch, Seodaemun Church in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Since a woman in her 30s from China arriving at Incheon Airport on the 19th of last month was confirmed as a COVID-19 patient, 30 cases were confirmed during the first four weeks. Patients number 29 and 30, living in Jongno-gu, Seoul, were confirmed on the 16th of this month.

Two days later, on the 18th, the 31st confirmed patient was reported in Daegu. This patient had no history of overseas travel and no contact with existing patients, so it took considerable time before undergoing a COVID-19 test. Even after symptoms such as fever appeared, the patient went to work but later was involved in a traffic accident and was admitted to a nearby Korean medicine hospital.

On the third day after admission, the patient visited Shincheonji Daegu Church in Nam-gu, Daegu, for about two hours, and visited the same church again on the 16th, a week later. As of the 21st (4 PM), 144 patients have been confirmed to have either visited or had contact with this church. It is still unclear whether the 31st patient was infected outside and then spread the virus at the Shincheonji Church, or if the patient was secondarily infected by another source.

Daenam Hospital, Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongbuk

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing that "the worship services at the church are held in a very enclosed space where many people sit closely together for about 1 to 2 hours," adding, "It is likely that a few exposed individuals infected many others."

The connection between Cheongdo Daenam Hospital in Gyeongbuk and Shincheonji Daegu Church has not yet been clearly proven. Epidemiological investigations of the 31st patient revealed that the patient had not visited Daenam Hospital or a funeral hall. This is why health authorities currently consider other possible links more likely. At Daenam Hospital, 14 new patients were added just this morning, including five medical staff such as nurses, but no additional cases were reported in the afternoon.

According to the Disease Control Headquarters, 100 new patients were confirmed in a single day, bringing the total confirmed cases to 204 (including 17 released from quarantine and 1 death). This was the highest daily increase with 53 new cases the previous day, and the number nearly doubled in just one day. Among approximately 9,000 church members, hundreds have symptoms, so the number of patients is expected to continue rising.

On the 21st, a notice of business suspension was posted at the Mapo-gu Public Health Center, which was visited by a confirmed COVID-19 patient. The Mapo-gu Public Health Center will suspend operations until the 23rd in preparation for any emergencies. However, the screening clinic will operate normally. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.