Confirmed Cases Linked to Uijeongbu Pastor Who Hid Movement Rise to 13 (Update)

Uijeongbu-si, Jusarang Church Assembly Ban Order

On the 25th, when concerns about virus transmission in the area were rising due to a confirmed case of COVID-19 in an art academy instructor in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, a citizen visiting the Gangseo-gu Public Health Center screening clinic received guidance from medical staff.
Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Suwan Kim] New cases of COVID-19 infections related to the pastor of Jusarang Church in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, are continuing to emerge.

As of 3 p.m. on the 27th, health authorities reported that a total of 13 people, including 7 direct contacts and 6 secondary infections, have been confirmed positive in connection with the pastor.

However, it has not been confirmed whether this pastor was the initial patient. Local governments have disclosed the movement paths of confirmed cases and identified the pastor as a contact.

According to health authorities, Pastor A (52) of Jusarang Church in Uijeongbu was diagnosed with COVID-19 on the 24th.

It was confirmed that Pastor A visited Pastor B (57) of Hwado Uri Church in Namyangju and Eunhye Methodist Church in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, on the 15th.

In the first investigation, Pastor A stated, "I have not held worship services and only briefly went out for a walk near my home without going to other areas."

However, when asked to open the church door for preventive disinfection, he refused. Eventually, under continued questioning by health authorities who found this suspicious, Pastor A spoke up.

Despite showing symptoms such as fever on the 20th, Pastor A visited a missionary center in Sangju, Gyeongbuk, with other pastors two days later on the 22nd.

Moreover, it was confirmed that Pastor A had previously visited a restaurant in Jongno-gu, Seoul, a prayer center in Nowon-gu, and a church in Dobong-gu.

As a result, contacts were consecutively confirmed positive, and secondary infections followed.

An evangelist at Eunhye Methodist Church in Yangcheon-gu tested positive on the 20th. Pastor B of Hwado Uri Church was confirmed positive on the 21st.

Additionally, around the same time, three church members, as well as Pastor B’s husband and daughter, were confirmed positive. One church member died on the 24th during treatment.

On the 25th, Pastor C (57, male) of Eunhye Church in Dobong-gu was diagnosed positive. It was investigated that Pastor C attended the same gathering as Pastor A and visited the prayer center in Nowon-gu together.

On the 26th, a 41-year-old man from Eunpyeong-gu and his elementary school-aged son, a 58-year-old female cook at a daycare center in Dobong-gu, a man in his 20s from Nowon-gu, and a 58-year-old female elementary school teacher were consecutively confirmed positive.

Thus, a total of 13 people were infected with COVID-19 between the 20th and 26th.

Health authorities believe that most of them are religiously connected.

As confirmed cases continued, Eunpyeong and Bucheon areas postponed scheduled school attendance on the 27th. Dobong-gu also temporarily closed the daycare center and conducted disinfection.

All employees and 116 church members of the missionary center in Sangju, Gyeongbuk, as well as daycare center staff in Dobong-gu, tested negative.

Meanwhile, Uijeongbu City issued a ban on gatherings at Jusarang Church on the 27th.

Violations of this order may result in a fine of up to 3 million won under the Infectious Disease Prevention Act. Additionally, if confirmed cases arise, claims for treatment and disinfection costs may be pursued.

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