2000 Churches in Seoul Open Doors... Easter 'Calm Before the Storm'

Over 2,000 out of more than 6,400 churches in Seoul

Likely to proceed with on-site Easter Sunday services this week

Strengthened on-site inspections centered on each autonomous district

On the morning of the 8th of last month, members and officials of the National Struggle Headquarters for the Resignation of Moon Jae-in (Beomtu-bon) were entering the Sunday joint worship service held at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu.
Sarang Jeil Church is where Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, the overall representative of Beomtu-bon and chairman of the Christian Council of Korea, who is currently detained by the police, serves as the head pastor. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] On Easter Sunday (the 12th), more than 2,000 churches in Seoul are expected to proceed with 'offline' services. Although the government has extended the period of 'enhanced social distancing' due to COVID-19 and urged restraint in holding on-site services, it is proving insufficient to stop Easter services, the largest commemorative event in Christianity.

According to Seoul City on the 10th, among the more than 6,400 churches in Seoul, 1,914 churches held on-site services last weekend (the 5th). This is an increase of 97 churches compared to 1,817 churches on the 29th of last month. Seoul City expects the number of churches opening on Easter Sunday to increase further, projecting it to exceed 2,000.

In Gyeonggi Province, as of the previous day, out of 10,655 churches in the province, 6,533 are holding online services, and 4,122 are holding in-church services. Simply put, the number of churches opening in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul and Gyeonggi, easily exceeds 6,000.

Churches have been repeatedly identified as sites of COVID-19 cluster infections. The Shincheonji Church in Daegu accounted for about 50% of the total confirmed cases in the country, with 5,210 infections. Other cluster infections occurred at Dongdaemun-gu Dongan Church (20 cases), Manmin Central Church (40 cases), Seongnam Grace River Church (72 cases), and Bucheon Life Water Church (25 cases). Experts have pointed out that the nature of staying indoors for long periods in close contact during services makes churches vulnerable to infectious disease transmission. Professor Jeong Gi-seok of Hallym University Respiratory Medicine said, "Just like in group jump rope where if one person gets infected, everyone gets infected, everyone must rest to prevent infection. Currently, some degree of enforcement is necessary."

Among large churches in Seoul, many are following government recommendations. Yoido Full Gospel Church is conducting all services, including Sunday services, online until the 12th. Onnuri Church, located in Seobinggo-dong and Yangjae-dong, Seoul, has also decided to hold online services until the COVID-19 spread subsides. Somang Church in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, will conduct online services through the end of this month, including Easter Sunday. However, some large churches such as Chung Hyun Church in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, are holding Easter Sunday services in the sanctuary mainly for church officers.

Local governments plan to monitor churches holding services through on-site inspections to ensure compliance with quarantine rules. They have provided guidance on five infection prevention rules: wearing masks, checking for fever and respiratory symptoms, maintaining distancing, conducting disinfection, and keeping attendance records. Churches that fail to comply with these prevention rules are subject to restrictions on gatherings through administrative orders.

On the 5th, Seoul City deployed 1,050 personnel, including 60 city employees, 430 district office staff, and 560 police officers, to conduct intensive inspections of 461 churches. Twenty-seven violations of quarantine rules were found in 18 churches. In particular, Seoul City plans to strengthen on-site inspections centered on each autonomous district by concentrating personnel on churches like Sarang Jeil Church, which is defying the assembly ban order and proceeding with Sunday on-site services.

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