'Many Marked as "No Religion or Blank"... Shincheonji Believers in Hanmaeum Apartment Falsely Report Religion'

On the 9th, the Army 2nd Operations Command conducted extensive quarantine and disinfection around Hanmaeum Apartment in Dalseo-gu, Daegu. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Seul-gi] It has been confirmed that members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji) residing in Hanmaeum Apartment in Dalseo-gu, Daegu, where 46 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) occurred, falsely recorded their religion.

Daegu City announced on the 11th that it identified the false entries through an analysis of the resident management cards of Hanmaeum Apartment.

Among the 137 residents of the apartment, 90 were confirmed to be members of the Shincheonji Daegu Church.

Among them, 35 residents wrote "no religion" on the management card, the largest number. Next, 25 left it blank, 24 wrote "Christian," and 3 each wrote "Catholic" or "Buddhist."

Regarding suspicions that there might be internal staff related to the collective residence of Shincheonji members, Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin said, "As a result of investigating 46 employees managing the apartment and 18 employees who retired or took leave within the past year, there were no Shincheonji members."

On the same day, Mayor Kwon denied some media allegations that there was a religion section on the Hanmaeum Apartment resident application form, saying, "That is not true." However, there was a section to record religion on the resident management card filled out after moving in.

Daegu City announced that as of 7 a.m. on the day, 99.8% (10,422 out of 10,439) of the Shincheonji members in Daegu had completed COVID-19 diagnostic testing.

Mayor Kwon added, "There are still 17 Shincheonji members who have not yet undergone testing; among them, 5 have agreed to be tested today, and the police are currently tracking the whereabouts of the remaining 12 who have not been contacted."

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