Shincheonji Submits List Late Again... 47 New Members of 'Undercover Church' Revealed (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] It has been confirmed that the Shincheonji Daegu Church, where a cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred, has belatedly submitted the membership lists of two previously unknown 'clandestine churches' to the Daegu city government. Members of these clandestine churches frequently came into contact with Shincheonji members but remained unidentified externally, leaving them outside the scope of quarantine measures until now.

Accordingly, more than a month into the COVID-19 crisis, Daegu city is now hastily investigating whether these members have tested positive.

According to the city on the 22nd, the Shincheonji Daegu Church submitted data on 47 members of two clandestine churches, referred to as 'Mission Churches,' including their names, dates of birth, and contact information, on the 19th. The city had requested the membership lists of the clandestine churches during a second administrative investigation conducted at the Shincheonji Daegu Church in Nam-gu on the 17th, and received them two days later.

The two clandestine churches located in Dong-gu and other areas, which do not reveal the Shincheonji name, reportedly include many family members and acquaintances of Daegu Church members, and Daegu Church members frequently visited these churches. The city understands these facilities operate as an intermediate stage to allow the general public to become Shincheonji members without significant resistance.

The city views the possibility of COVID-19 infection as high since members of the clandestine churches regularly interact with Shincheonji members. However, they had been excluded from management networks on the grounds that they were not official members of the Shincheonji Daegu Church.

This means there was a gap in quarantine measures during the past month when COVID-19 spread in the local community.

It is known that concerns have been raised among Shincheonji members about clandestine church members engaging in external activities without significant restrictions. However, some of these individuals reportedly refuse to cooperate with quarantine authorities' investigations, claiming they are 'not Shincheonji members.'

A Daegu city official stated, "We are checking whether members of the clandestine churches have undergone COVID-19 testing," and added, "We will complete the investigation as quickly as possible."

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