Today is Shincheonji Foundation Day... Police and Local Governments on Alert for 'Believer Gatherings'

Over 5,600 Daegu Church Members Recently Released from Quarantine
Secret Meetings May Lead to Infectious Disease Control Act Violation Charges

On the morning of the 12th, the police digital evidence analysis team entered the building to conduct an administrative investigation of the Shincheonji Church (Daegu Church) located in Nam-gu, Daegu.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] As the 36th anniversary of the founding of Shincheonji Church of Jesus (Shincheonji) approaches, health authorities are on high alert for any possible gatherings of church members. The police, together with local governments, have stepped up patrols around Shincheonji facilities.

According to the police on the 14th, Shincheonji is marking its founding anniversary on this day. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Shincheonji churches have been closed, and worship services and meetings have been suspended, leading to the cancellation of official commemorative events.

The Shincheonji founding anniversary ceremony is known as the largest event within Shincheonji. Last year, to celebrate its founding, Shincheonji held a large-scale commemorative worship service at the Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Seoul, attended by about 20,000 people.

Shincheonji has continuously urged its members not to hold gatherings, but health authorities are monitoring related developments closely, as some members may hold sporadic meetings independently.

The police, in cooperation with local governments, are supporting patrols around Shincheonji-related facilities that have been previously closed. In Gwangju, known to have the highest number of Shincheonji members nationwide, local districts and the police have already decided to strengthen patrols around 115 Shincheonji facilities.

Daegu City is also maintaining vigilance. This is because 5,647 Shincheonji members who tested negative for COVID-19 were released from self-quarantine at midnight on the 12th. The police plan to strengthen patrols of Shincheonji facilities in cooperation with the city and to identify any sporadic gatherings.

If it is discovered that Shincheonji members have secretly held meetings on their own, the relevant local government may report them to investigative authorities for violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and other laws. The police are currently operating 'COVID-19 Rapid Response Teams' at each police station and will immediately launch investigations if related reports are received.

Meanwhile, as of midnight on the same day, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 107 to a total of 8,066. Of the 107 new cases, 68 were reported in Daegu and Gyeongbuk.

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