Gyeonggi-do Leading Specimen Collection for Lee Man-hee: "Ordered Entry into Villa"

Governor Lee Jae-myung Criticizes Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee's Refusal to Provide Specimen
"If Specimen Collection Is Refused, Will Arrest on the Spot for Epidemiological Investigation Refusal"

Lee Man-hee, the president of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), is giving a thumbs-up as he leaves after a press conference related to the COVID-19 situation held on the 2nd at the Shincheonji Palace of Peace in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, headed to the Peace Palace in Gapyeong to directly verify whether Lee Man-hee, the Chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, was infected with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On the 2nd, Governor Lee stated on Facebook, "Mr. Lee Man-hee, if you refuse to provide a specimen immediately, you will be arrested on the spot for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act by refusing an epidemiological investigation," adding, "According to Article 18, Paragraph 3 and Article 79 of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, refusal to cooperate with an epidemiological investigation can result in a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment, and anyone can arrest a person caught in the act."

Governor Lee said, "In accordance with Articles 42, Paragraphs 1 to 3 of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, I instructed public officials to enter the villa and conduct an investigation and examination of the suspected infectious disease patient, Mr. Lee Man-hee, and requested the chief of the Gapyeong Police Station to support the investigation and examination of Mr. Lee Man-hee pursuant to Paragraph 4 of the same article."

Lee Man-hee, the president of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), is holding a press conference on the COVID-19 situation on the 2nd at the Shincheonji Palace of Peace in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, while an official is holding up a copy of the COVID-19 test medical record. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Earlier, Gyeonggi Province attempted to collect specimens and conduct COVID-19 diagnostic tests immediately after Chairman Lee’s press conference, but failed due to obstruction by Shincheonji officials.

Regarding this, Governor Lee said, "Before the press conference, the epidemiological investigator’s assessment of the need for testing was communicated, and the head of the Gapyeong Public Health Center requested the test according to the law, but after the press conference, he just went inside," adding, "You mentioned at the press conference that you feel responsible, but please remember that refusing even the legally mandated test could cast doubt on the sincerity of that statement."

The Shincheonji side stated that Chairman Lee underwent an infection diagnostic test at Gapyeong HJ Magnolia International Hospital on the 29th of last month and received a negative result on the 2nd.

When asked at the press conference when he received the positive diagnosis, Chairman Lee replied, "I don’t really know much about COVID-19," adding, "I was contacted to get tested, so I went and got tested, but I don’t really know the results well, but they say it’s negative. I don’t really know about the negative result either."

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