Government Plans to Secure Complete List of Shincheonji Church Members... Coordination with Church Underway (Update)

COVID-19 Infection Survey to Begin Immediately for All Believers

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced on the 25th that it has agreed to cooperate with the Shincheonji Church to obtain the full list of members and their contact information nationwide through consultations.

The CDSCH judged that a full survey of all Shincheonji Church members is essential to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and to alleviate public anxiety. Accordingly, in addition to the member lists of Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions previously provided by the Shincheonji Church, the CDSCH has continuously requested the complete member list.

On the 24th, through close consultations centered on the Chief of the Prime Minister's Secretariat Civil Affairs Office, the CDSCH secured cooperation from the Shincheonji Church, including the provision of the full member list, active cooperation with health authorities for testing, and encouraging trainees to undergo screening.

The Shincheonji Church requested the government to establish measures to prevent and safeguard against personal information leakage to alleviate concerns about privacy breaches.

The Shincheonji Church agreed to first provide the list of high-risk members who either visited the Daegu church from other regions during January to February this year or who are Daegu church members that visited other regions during the same period, and to provide the full member list as soon as possible.

Once the member list is secured from the Shincheonji Church, the CDSCH plans to immediately distribute it to public health centers and local governments nationwide and commence COVID-19 infection investigations targeting members residing in their respective jurisdictions.

The CDSCH stated, "We will promptly conduct the investigation of all Shincheonji Church members and complete it in a short period," and added, "We will transparently disclose the progress regularly."

It further added, "The CDSCH will begin detailed practical consultations related to this matter starting today and plans to proceed swiftly."

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