"I Don't Even Have a Fever" Jeon Gwang-hoon Tests Positive... Uses Speech Microphone One After Another

Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon Confirmed Positive, COVID-19 Spread from Sarang Jeil Church

Senior Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). A quarantine official stated on the 17th, "Pastor Jeon has been confirmed as a COVID-19 positive case."
The photo shows Pastor Jeon attending the first trial session of the first instance at the Seoul Central District Court, where he was indicted on charges including violation of the Public Official Election Act. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, head pastor of Seoul Seongbuk Sarang Jeil Church, was confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on the previous day (17th), raising growing concerns that the Gwanghwamun rally led by Pastor Jeon on the 15th might have served as a major COVID-19 infection cluster. It is also reported that Pastor Jeon's wife and secretary tested positive for COVID-19.

In the rally footage captured by broadcast cameras at the time, Pastor Jeon, standing on the podium, removes the mask hanging on his chin and puts it on his wrist. During his speech, Pastor Jeon also says, "I don't even have a fever. I have no symptoms of the illness at all."

The problem lies in the violation of quarantine rules. According to health authorities, Pastor Jeon was subject to self-quarantine. The self-quarantine guidelines require the individual to △ refrain from going outside the quarantine location to prevent infection transmission △ live alone in a separate space △ contact the local health center first if going out for unavoidable reasons such as medical treatment △ avoid contact or conversation with family members or cohabitants △ if unavoidable, wear masks and maintain a distance of at least 2 meters without facing each other.

However, Pastor Jeon violated all these rules at the rally. During his speech, conservative YouTuber Joo Ok-soon handed him a water bottle, and Kim Kyung-jae, former president of the Federation of Korean Associations, even held Pastor Jeon's hand and raised it high.

On the afternoon of the 15th, Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church is speaking at a rally condemning the government and ruling party held in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Moreover, the microphone that Pastor Jeon used almost touching his mouth continuously for 15 minutes was subsequently used by the rally MC and about 10 other speakers in succession. More than 10 people appear to have had close contact with Pastor Jeon, including physical contact. It is inevitable that additional confirmed cases will emerge.

Health authorities are concerned about the possibility of further infections since the rally reportedly gathered about 50,000 people.

A health official stated on the 17th, "Pastor Jeon has been confirmed positive for COVID-19," adding, "He must receive isolation treatment at a hospital. People who had contact with him at the Seoul Liberation Day rally on the 15th should be promptly quarantined and tested."

The number of COVID-19 cases originating from Sarang Jeil Church continues to rise. As of noon the previous day, the confirmed cases reached 315.

Jung Eun-kyung, director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters briefing on the 17th, "As of 12 noon, the number of confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church members is 319, an increase of 70 from the previous day. Among them, 307 cases were confirmed in the metropolitan area, and 12 cases were reported in non-metropolitan areas including 5 in Chungnam, 4 in Gangwon, and 1 each in Daegu, Gyeongbuk, and Daejeon."

Meanwhile, health authorities plan to claim compensation from the organizers who insisted on holding the rally if large-scale damage occurs due to the spread of the cluster infection.

Earlier, the Central Accident Investigation Headquarters of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Seoul Metropolitan Government filed charges against Pastor Jeon on the 16th for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. The government also stated that Pastor Jeon is suspected of obstructing epidemiological investigations by omitting and concealing the church investigation target list.

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