"Arrest Them" vs "Stop the Persecution": Government, Shincheonji Conflict Intensifies (Comprehensive)

Shincheonji "Do Not Blame the Believers... The Biggest Victims of COVID-19"
Park Won-soon "Prosecutors Should Arrest Chairman Lee Man-hee"
Daegu City Files Complaint Against Shincheonji for Violating Infectious Disease Prevention Laws

Kim Simon, spokesperson for Shincheonji Church of Jesus, made a statement regarding the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on his YouTube channel at 3 PM on the 28th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Amid the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and the rising calls for accountability of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), the Shincheonji side issued a statement on the 1st, appealing, "Please do not persecute Shincheonji believers, and help us to not be discouraged but to actively cooperate."

However, with the public apology from Shincheonji leader Lee Man-hee and the filing of complaints against Shincheonji, the conflict between the government and Shincheonji over the COVID-19 situation is deepening.

◆ Shincheonji: "Stop Attempts to Criminalize Shincheonji as a Group"

In the statement, Shincheonji said, "The Shincheonji Church of Jesus has submitted the full list of believers and trainees both domestically and internationally at the request of health authorities. However, local governments are raising issues with the lists and are rushing to file complaints against the Shincheonji Church of Jesus," adding, "We are simply people gathered to practice our faith, and we may fall short of the public's expectations. Please stop attempts to portray Shincheonji as a criminal group by depicting this lack of capability as if something is being hidden."

They continued, "Although our capabilities are limited, in places like Incheon and Gwangju, we have formed teams with local governments to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and are cooperating as much as possible with local authorities. Before labeling uninvestigated believers as 'missing contacts' and mobilizing police forces, please trust the vast majority of Shincheonji believers who have responded to investigations and give us the opportunity to encourage other believers."

They also stated, "I want to emphasize that the more political leaders and the media indiscriminately blame Shincheonji as the source, the more our believers will find it difficult to reveal their identities out of fear," and added, "We sincerely apologize with bowed heads for the infections caused by some believers who tested positive without disclosing their affiliation with the Shincheonji Church of Jesus."

Previously, Shincheonji had also expressed grievances over being criticized as the source of the COVID-19 outbreak in a statement.

On the 28th of last month, Shincheonji stated, "The witch hunt against Shincheonji believers has reached its peak," and appealed, "Believers are dying due to family persecution and violence."

They added, "We did not create the COVID-19 virus and are citizens living daily lives as victims," and "We are cooperating with all measures taken by the authorities. The claim that we are deliberately concealing the number of believers is completely untrue."

They further appealed, "Please remove the cult frame and stop the criticism and hatred against Shincheonji. Stop the slander and oppression by some media with unverified information and fake news."

On the 29th of last month, Wonju City and the police posted building closure stickers on facilities such as the Shincheonji Church worship halls in Usan-dong and Taejang-dong areas of Wonju City, where COVID-19 confirmed cases occurred.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Park Won-soon: "Arresting Lee Man-hee, the person responsible for the virus source, is the role of the prosecution now"

Meanwhile, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon urged investigative authorities to investigate Shincheonji regarding the spread of COVID-19 in a post on his Facebook on the morning of the 1st.

Mayor Park said on Facebook, "I request Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl to arrest Lee Man-hee, the head of Shincheonji and the person responsible for the source of the virus threatening the lives of the people. This is the role the prosecution must fulfill now," defining Shincheonji as the source of COVID-19.

He continued, "Lee Man-hee, the head of Shincheonji, is the key person responsible for this situation and must immediately take action to resolve the problem," emphasizing, "Lee Man-hee and the Shincheonji leadership must come out from hiding, apologize to the public, undergo COVID-19 testing themselves, and actively cooperate with quarantine authorities by ensuring all believers are tested promptly."

Mayor Park also reiterated, "If Lee Man-hee does not take the necessary measures, Seoul City will file a criminal complaint for murder by indirect intent as previously announced."

He added, "Seoul City has requested the Minister of Health and Welfare to provide three sets of data related to Shincheonji under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act," and warned that if Lee Man-hee and the Shincheonji leadership do not take responsibility for the situation, "Seoul City will mobilize all authority and means as already warned."

Facilities of the Shincheonji Church banned from entry by Cheonan City, Chungnam Province. There are a total of 8 locations in Cheonan. This measure was taken following the revelation that Shincheonji gatherings in Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions rapidly spread the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Political circles: "Lee Man-hee's public apology is a human duty"

Criticism of Lee Man-hee is also mounting in political circles. Yoo Si-min, chairman of the People’s Party and the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, said on the YouTube broadcast 'Yoo Si-min's Alileo Live' on the 25th of last month, "Looking at the statements made in the name of Lee Man-hee or by someone claiming to be a spokesperson, it seems they were made to anger people."

Regarding Shincheonji believers, he criticized, "Instead of saying they will cooperate, they should provide the latest updated believer information to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in an Excel file, no matter how much loss they suffer. That is a human duty before considering religion."

Song Young-gil, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, also said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the same day, "It is a human duty for the leader of a religious group causing controversy to issue a public apology."

He added, "Isn't this an opportunity for the person called the Savior and the Victor to prove they can overcome COVID-19? They should directly come forward and interview believers, urging them to cooperate with authorities vocally, rather than hiding and just posting a letter, which is not a dignified approach," reiterating his criticism.

Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin (left) is holding a press briefing on the response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) at Daegu City Hall on the morning of the 21st of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Daegu City files complaint against Shincheonji for violating infectious disease prevention laws

Meanwhile, according to the Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency, on the afternoon of the 28th of last month around 6 p.m., Daegu City filed a complaint against the Shincheonji Daegu Church.

The complainant is Kwon Young-jin, Mayor of Daegu Metropolitan City. The accused are all those involved, including the person responsible for submitting materials and the management officials of the Shincheonji Daegu Church. The charge is violation of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act.

Daegu City announced that on the 27th of last month, after receiving a list from the government that included Shincheonji believers from other regions residing in Daegu and trainees of the Daegu church, they compared it with the list of Shincheonji Daegu Church believers secured by Daegu City and confirmed an additional 1,983 believers.

Daegu City views these actions by the Shincheonji Daegu Church as causing confusion in infectious disease prevention measures.

Meanwhile, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 9 a.m. on the 1st, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Daegu increased by 514 compared to 9 a.m. the previous day, totaling 2,569. Nationwide confirmed cases increased by 376 to 3,479.

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