Jeonbuk Province Issues 'Emergency Administrative Order' for Participants of Metropolitan Area Churches and Gatherings

Mandatory COVID-19 Testing for Participants of Sarangjeil Church, Gyeongbokgung Station, and Gwangbokjeol Gatherings

O Taek-rim, Director of the Welfare and Women’s Bureau, is briefing on the administrative order mandating all attendees of the Seoul rally to voluntarily report and undergo COVID testing. Photo by Jeonbuk Province Provided

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hong Jae-hee] Jeonbuk Province has issued an emergency administrative order mandating COVID-19 testing for participants of church services in the Seoul metropolitan area and the Liberation Day rallies.

On the 17th, the province stated that it is working to secure the list of bus passengers from Jeonju, Gunsan, Iksan, and Namwon areas who attended the rallies, but is facing difficulties in epidemiological investigations due to the refusal of the church to submit the list.

The diagnostic testing targets under this administrative order include visitors to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul (August 7 to August 13), the rally near Gyeongbokgung Station (August 8), and the Liberation Day rally (August 15).

The testing period is from the 17th to the 19th, and tests must be conducted at screening clinics set up in public health centers within Jeonbuk Province.

Violations of the administrative order will result in prosecution under the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, and if confirmed cases occur, the province plans to claim compensation. Personal information will be protected during testing.

This administrative order follows the one issued in February related to the Shincheonji Church and is the second order related to religious gatherings involving Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul.

It has been confirmed that the 45th and 46th COVID-19 confirmed cases in the province, who are members of Sarang Jeil Church, participated in the rallies at Gyeongbokgung and Gwanghwamun, and approximately 300 church members from 4 to 5 cities and counties in the province attended the Gwanghwamun rally.

Jeonbuk Province has sent disaster alert messages as a preemptive measure to block community transmission and has taken steps to ensure that the targeted individuals can get tested. The province plans to establish a cooperative system with related agencies such as the police to ensure effectiveness.

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