Yongsan-gu Completes Full Investigation of 580 Shincheonji Affiliates

From the 27th of last month, a two-week investigation was conducted on 427 Shincheonji believers and 153 trainees... A team of 30 investigators each handled 20 individuals to check for COVID-19 symptom development... 23 symptomatic cases were referred to health centers for specimen collection... Related facilities were also closed

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yongsan-gu (District Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) has completed a full survey of 580 Shincheonji affiliates (residents) known as a high-risk group for COVID-19 (427 believers, 153 trainees).

The district set up a survey room on the 3rd basement floor multipurpose room (Yongsan Art Hall lecture room) of the district office on the 27th of last month and conducted daily surveys for two weeks (including weekends).

The survey team, consisting of 30 district office officials, each took charge of 20 people and examined ▲whether COVID-19 symptoms appeared ▲whether they visited high-risk areas such as worship in Gwacheon within the last 14 days ▲whether they belong to high-risk occupations ▲whether they enlisted in the military. They referred 23 symptomatic individuals to the public health center for specimen collection.

Most of the test results (21 people) were negative, and 2 people are awaiting results.

The district also made twice-daily phone calls to self-quarantined Shincheonji affiliates (contacts) and those who visited high-risk areas to check for symptom development. For asymptomatic individuals, confirmation calls were made three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday).

A district official said, “Since sensitive personal information was involved, a separate space was prepared, and the investigation was conducted in the presence of Shincheonji believers and the security officer (audit officer).” He added, “11 people whose whereabouts were unknown have been transferred to Seoul City for separate investigation.”

After this survey, the district plans to immediately conduct investigations if additional lists of Shincheonji affiliates (high-risk occupations) are received from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters.

The district is also investigating Shincheonji-related facilities in the area. The facilities confirmed so far are nine locations: ▲49 Hangang-daero (4th-5th floors) ▲321-1 Hangang-daero (2nd floor) ▲55 Huam-ro 57-gil (3rd-4th floors) ▲47 Baekbeom-ro 90ra-gil (4th-5th floors) ▲12 Bogwang-ro 24-gil (3rd floor) ▲5 Hyochangwon-ro 69-gil (3rd floor) ▲397 Hangang-daero (3rd floor) ▲24 Hangang-daero 104-gil (3rd floor) ▲15 Hyochangwon-ro 69-gil (basement floor).

The district has already closed these facilities and completed disinfection work.

As of the 11th, there is 1 confirmed case and 33 self-quarantined individuals in Yongsan-gu. Disinfection activities have been carried out 2,621 times, and distribution of disinfection supplies (masks, hand sanitizers, hand cleansers, etc.) has reached 66,702 cases.

About 70% of multi-use facilities related to the district have been closed. The district is also leading the “social distancing” campaign by installing acrylic partitions in the district office civil service center and the district cafeteria. Each community service center is conducting a disinfection and sterilization equipment rental project.

Seong Jang-hyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “The situation is becoming more serious due to the group infection at the Guro-gu call center,” and added, “We will prevent the spread of COVID-19 through preemptive investigations of high-risk groups, including Shincheonji affiliates.”

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