20-Year-Old Arrested for Lying About Visiting Shincheonji Church and Undergoing COVID-19 Test

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] A man in his 20s who lied about visiting the Daegu Shincheonji Church and then underwent a COVID-19 test has been arrested by the police.

The Yongin Dongbu Police Station in Gyeonggi announced on the 27th that they have arrested A (28) on charges of obstruction of official duties by deception, violation of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, and embezzlement.

A is accused of lying on the 21st at the Cheoin-gu Public Health Center in Yongin, claiming he had visited the Daegu Shincheonji Church, and then taking a COVID-19 test, thereby obstructing the health center’s epidemiological investigation and related duties.

According to the police, two days later on the 23rd, while working as a delivery worker at a restaurant, A was under police investigation for using a fuel card for unauthorized purposes. During this investigation, he reportedly stated that he had recently visited Daegu, undergone a COVID-19 test, and was under self-quarantine.

The police, suspicious of A’s statement given his lack of COVID-19 symptoms, investigated his movements and discovered that he had no record of visiting Daegu.

A tested negative for COVID-19.

During the police investigation, A admitted to the crime and reportedly stated that he "tried to imitate what YouTubers do."

The police plan to transfer A to the prosecution as soon as the investigation is completed.

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