"'National Nuisance' Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon Reincarceration Petition at Blue House Gains 260,000 Supporters"

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who was diagnosed with COVID-19, is leaving the Sarang Jeil Church parsonage in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 17th and moving to board a Seongbuk Public Health Center vehicle. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] Despite concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), demands are rapidly increasing to re-imprison Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, the head pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, who forcibly held a rally in Gwanghwamun, Seoul on Liberation Day (the 15th). Pastor Jeon was diagnosed with COVID-19 on the 17th.

As of 7:50 a.m. on the 18th, a petition titled "'Public Nuisance' Jeon Gwang-hoon Re-imprisonment Request," posted on the Blue House National Petition Board on the 15th, has gained the support of approximately 265,421 people.

The petitioner stated, "Jeon Gwang-hoon, the head pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, was released on bail on April 20th. It had only been 56 days since he was imprisoned," and added, "What was the result? After being released on bail, Jeon has been relentlessly holding various rallies attended by thousands of people, obsessively collecting membership fees and offerings, and even making the efforts of the quarantine authorities who worked hard to end COVID-19 futile."

They continued, "Although a large number of COVID-19 cases have occurred at Sarang Jeil Church, where Jeon is the head pastor, he shows no sign of remorse or concern for the health of the church members," criticizing him.

The petitioner explained, "According to media reports, Jeon told church members who showed suspected COVID-19 symptoms to delay getting tested. Another media outlet confirmed through interviews with attendees of Jeon's rallies that 'even if they have a fever, they do not get tested,'" and added, "This is because Jeon paralyzed his supporters' judgment with conspiracy theories against the government."

They further stated, "Previously, a media report received appeals from people who shed tears because their family members, misled by Jeon, attended various rallies during the COVID-19 crisis and even brought money," and condemned, "This is heartbreaking. This is an atrocity that cannot be justified in the name of religion."

Finally, the petitioner demanded, "Please re-imprison Jeon, who harms our society's safety under the guise of religion. Jeon's detention is a new start for quarantine."

A Blue House petition demanding the re-imprisonment of Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, head of Sarang Jeil Church, has gained the support of approximately 265,421 people as of 7:50 a.m. on the 18th.
/Photo by Blue House petition board capture.

Earlier, followers of Sarang Jeil Church led by Pastor Jeon and conservative groups forcibly held a large-scale rally on the 15th despite Seoul City's order to ban gatherings.

At that time, Seoul City had notified Pastor Jeon that he was subject to self-quarantine after multiple COVID-19 cases were confirmed at Sarang Jeil Church since the 12th, but Pastor Jeon violated this and attended the rally.

Meanwhile, according to quarantine authorities, Pastor Jeon tested positive for COVID-19 on the 17th. The number of confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church also exceeded 300 as of the 18th.

Among domestic cluster infection cases, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Daegu, has the highest number with 5,214 cases, followed by Sarang Jeil Church, and then Itaewon clubs with 277 cases.

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