Gyeonggi-do Issues 'Gathering Ban' Order to Suwon M Church for Violating Assembly Restrictions

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province issued an administrative order banning gatherings for two weeks from 0:00 on the 18th to 24:00 on the 31st against M Church located in Suwon for violating the administrative order restricting gatherings at religious facilities.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 17th that it decided to issue a ban on gatherings against Suwon M Church, which violated the gathering restriction order by holding a summer retreat at the church on the 15th and providing group meals to attendees.

Earlier, on the 14th, the province had issued an administrative order restricting gatherings at all religious facilities, including churches, banning all meetings and events except for regular worship services, masses, and Buddhist ceremonies.

According to the province, M Church held a summer retreat inside the church from 10 a.m. on the 15th and even provided meals.

It was confirmed that about 300 people attended the retreat that day, including around 200 Suwon citizens consisting of children, adolescents, and adults, and about 100 believers from other regions.

The province viewed M Church as violating the gathering restriction order by holding small group meetings and providing meals outside of regular worship services, and decided to issue a ban on gatherings under Article 49, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 2 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act. Additionally, if infections occur due to this event, all quarantine costs will be claimed from M Church.

However, considering that M Church ended the event early at the request of Suwon City officials who conducted an on-site inspection, no separate prosecution measures will be taken.

Under this ban on gatherings administrative order, M Church is completely prohibited from holding any meetings or events under the church’s name, including regular worship services, for two weeks.

The province stated that if M Church and its believers violate the ban on gatherings administrative order, all involved will be prosecuted under Article 80, Paragraph 7 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, and if confirmed cases occur, strict measures will be taken including claiming quarantine costs for testing, investigation, and treatment.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung disclosed this fact on his social media (SNS) on the same day, explaining the background of issuing the ban on gatherings administrative order by saying, "I clearly stated the policy to strengthen the restriction to a full ban on gatherings, prosecute, and exercise the right to claim damages if the gathering restriction order is violated, but despite knowing this, the administrative order was violated. As the governor responsible for the lives and safety of 13.7 million residents, I express deep regret to the church involved."

Governor Lee continued, "We are now facing a critical moment in the COVID-19 war that will determine whether the fear of a metropolitan area pandemic becomes a reality or not," adding, "If the metropolitan area collapses, we will face an unprecedented crisis, so we must take the highest level of defensive measures possible," urging residents’ cooperation.

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province also issued gathering restriction orders requiring compliance with preventive measures from the 15th to the 30th for PC rooms, coffee shops, bathhouses, academies, and private tutoring centers, where gathering restrictions had been lifted, along with religious facilities.

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