People's Party: "Jeon Gwang-hoon Requires Strong Punishment... 'Social Distancing Level 3' Should Be Considered"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 18th, the People’s Party stated regarding the resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), “Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who tested positive, is subject to self-quarantine but behaved very inappropriately and irrationally by walking around the streets without even wearing a mask, encountering numerous crowds,” and added, “This act not only defies the quarantine authorities’ measures but is also a crime that seriously endangers the health rights of the people, thus requiring strong punishment.”

Hong Kyung-hee, the senior deputy spokesperson of the People’s Party, said in a commentary on the same day, “The COVID-19 spread in Seoul and the metropolitan area is very severe,” and “Especially over the weekend, confirmed cases from participants in the Gwanghwamun protest rallies and from Sarang Church have spread as if self-dividing, expanding the infected areas.”

Senior Deputy Spokesperson Hong emphasized, “Along with the search for Sarang Jeil Church believers who have not been contacted so far, thorough monitoring is necessary to prevent self-quarantined individuals from leaving the controlled zones,” and “There was already an attempt by a church member transferred to hospitals in Pohang and Paju to escape from the hospital, so urgent countermeasures seem necessary.”

Senior Deputy Spokesperson Hong said, “The government should consider raising social distancing measures to level 3 to prevent the spread through mass gatherings and religious facilities as is currently happening,” and “With the awareness that prevention is best and to raise social vigilance, quarantine authorities must devise all available means to prevent a second large-scale outbreak. It must be kept in mind that the national losses caused by a second large-scale outbreak far outweigh the social costs incurred by social distancing level 3.”

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