Protestant Community Apologizes for Cluster Infection... Calls for Responsible Action from All Churches

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] The Protestant community has recently apologized for the COVID-19 cluster infection incidents that occurred at some churches in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Eunhyeui Gang Church in Seongnam.

The Korean Christian Church Council (NCCK) and the Korea Christian Federation, Protestant church associations, issued a joint statement on the 19th, saying, "Several churches have caused harm to the safety of church members and local residents, damaging the social trust of the Korean church," and expressed "deep regret before the quarantine authorities and the public."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

They stated, "The spread of COVID-19 is a national issue, not just an individual church's problem," and added, "Church cluster infections severely hinder the church's mission, so all churches must act responsibly and cooperate to prevent recurrence of cluster infections."

The two organizations also emphasized the implementation of the administrative order issued by Gyeonggi Province on the 17th to restrict close gatherings during Sunday worship, while adding, "We ask the government and local governments to prioritize dialogue and cooperation over orders when exercising legal authority."

Meanwhile, it is reported that about 40% of the congregants who attended the Eunhyeui Gang Church service tested positive for COVID-19. Seongnam City announced that among the pastor couple and 136 congregants who attended the church service, 55 were confirmed positive in the first count. It was also found that confirmed patients and their contacts reside not only in the Seoul metropolitan area including Gyeonggi and Seoul but also in Cheonan, Chungnam.

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