'COVID-19 Spread Through Churches' Continues, Some Churches Proceed with Services... Tomorrow is Shincheonji Founding Anniversary

Soldiers of the 56th Division under the Capital Defense Command are conducting disinfection work at a church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd. In response to the escalation of the COVID-19 crisis alert to the 'Severe' level, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held an emergency 'Seoul Safety Management Committee' meeting on February 24 and requested cooperation from the Capital Defense Command. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] As the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has somewhat subsided, major large churches in Seoul are holding Sunday services online on the 15th due to concerns about community transmission. However, some churches have decided to return to in-person services, and since the 14th is the founding anniversary of Shincheonji Church of Jesus (Shincheonji), health authorities and local governments are on high alert regarding church gatherings over the weekend.

According to major churches in Seoul on the 13th, most will conduct Sunday services online on the 15th. However, Kwanglim Church has decided to resume in-person services after a two-week break, while also planning to hold online services simultaneously. Yonsei Central Church, which insisted on in-person services, has not yet set a schedule for Sunday services. This church is located in Guro-gu, where the Guro Call Center cluster infection occurred.

Concerns are high about forcing offline services amid ongoing cluster infections through churches. The Bucheon Hanayo Nursing Hospital, which was cohort-isolated on this day, is where nursing assistant A (49, female), who was confirmed positive after contact with an infected person at Bucheon Saengmyeongsu Church on the 8th, worked. It has been identified that Ms. A came into contact with 112 patients and staff members.

The 14th is the founding anniversary of Shincheonji, which was a major transmission route in the Daegu cluster infection. Shincheonji has announced the closure of all Shincheonji churches nationwide and the suspension of all services and meetings, but concerns about transmission due to gatherings remain. A Shincheonji official emphasized, "We are regularly communicating the policy to continuously refrain from meetings," adding, "Services are being replaced with online ones, and other meetings and activities have already been suspended."

Local governments and health authorities are monitoring for any sporadic gatherings that may occur. Each local government has decided to strengthen patrols around previously closed Shincheonji facilities in cooperation with the police.

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