Government and Seoul City File Charges Against Jeon Gwang-hoon for 'Quarantine Violation and Obstruction of Epidemiological Investigation' (Update)

Senior Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act, is responding to reporters' questions as he enters the courtroom for the first hearing held on the 29th at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] The government and Seoul city will file charges on the 16th against Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, the head pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, who violated the self-quarantine measures for COVID-19 by attending gatherings and omitted and concealed the list of investigation targets.

On the 16th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced, "We will file charges today against Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where multiple confirmed cases occurred, for violating self-quarantine measures and obstructing epidemiological investigations by omitting and concealing the list of investigation targets."

Seoul city also decided to file charges against Pastor Jeon and church officials for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act by deliberately delaying the diagnostic testing of believers through spreading false information and violating self-quarantine orders.

As of midnight on the same day, the number of confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church was identified as at least 150 in the metropolitan area, including 107 in Seoul and 43 in Gyeonggi Province. Additionally, new cases have been reported in Incheon and Chungnam due to visits to Sarang Jeil Church or contact with related confirmed cases, raising concerns about a resurgence of COVID-19 centered around the church.

Although Pastor Jeon received a self-quarantine notice, he attended a conservative group rally held in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 15th, claiming, "They tried to prevent me from coming to this place by committing a terrorist act with the Wuhan virus from China," and asserted, "The virus did not occur gradually but was poured onto our church."

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