"Before Easter" ... Over 1,900 Seoul Churches Again Hold On-Site Services

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Although the government requested an extension of 'social distancing' measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the number of churches holding on-site worship services over the weekend actually increased.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 6th that a total of 1,914 churches held offline on-site worship services on Sunday, the 5th. This is an increase of 97 churches compared to 1,817 churches on the 29th of last month, a week earlier.

Yoo Yeon-sik, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Culture Headquarters, said, "As Easter on the 12th approaches, it appears that the number of churches conducting on-site worship services is gradually increasing," and added, "We ask for more cooperation with the government's strengthened social distancing guidelines."

During on-site inspections by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 5th, 27 violations of quarantine rules were detected at 18 churches, all of which were corrected on the spot.

However, the number of churches caught violating rules has been decreasing weekly: 281 churches two weeks ago, 56 last week, and 18 yesterday.

Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, again violated the Seoul Metropolitan Government's assembly ban order last week.

Head Yoo explained, "Despite the assembly ban order already issued to Sarang Jeil Church, they forcibly held on-site worship services yesterday," and added, "Based on the evidence collected, we will file additional complaints and extend the assembly ban order for two more weeks until the 19th."

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