Government "Considering Shincheonji Compensation Claims Based on Prosecutor's Investigation Results"

In May, prosecutors completed a search and seizure at the Shincheonji General Assembly Headquarters in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, and are seen carrying out a box containing seized items.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The government announced on the 23rd that it may proceed with claims for damages depending on the results of the upcoming prosecution investigation into Shincheonji Church of Jesus (hereafter Shincheonji). Earlier, Daegu City stated that it would seek legal responsibility since Shincheonji obstructed quarantine activities and public expenditures were substantial, and now the central government has also left open the possibility of litigation.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, said at a background briefing that "investigations are being conducted at the prosecution or Ministry of Justice level," adding, "The central government will comprehensively review the situation and proceed based on the prosecution's judgment on whether to hold Shincheonji accountable for reimbursement claims or negligence-related responsibility."

Some local governments have previously filed claims for damages related to COVID-19 quarantine activities. In March, Seoul City filed a lawsuit against Shincheonji, and in the same month, Jeju Province filed a claim against a mother and daughter from Gangnam who traveled to Jeju. According to quarantine authorities, the cluster infection cases related to Shincheonji number 5,213, accounting for over 40% of the total confirmed cases in South Korea. This is the largest cluster infection in the country.

The government has been cautious about filing claims for damages. While fines or criminal penalties are possible if related laws such as the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act are violated or if epidemiological investigations are intentionally obstructed, there is no precedent for claims for damages, and legal battles would be required to prove clear intent or negligence on the part of the claim target. However, since Shincheonji allegedly obstructed quarantine work by omitting member lists, as in the Daegu City case, the government’s likelihood of taking related procedures has increased significantly.

Daegu City estimated the damage amount, including diagnostic tests, treatment costs, and quarantine expenses, at approximately 146 billion KRW, and filed a claim for damages for 100 billion KRW of provable costs. Daegu City expects the amount to increase further.

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