"Man in His 50s Flees at Dawn" Controversy Over Quarantine Noncompliance by Sarang Jeil Church Confirmed Case

Confirmed COVID-19 Patient from Sarang Jeil Church Escapes from Paju Hospital... Police in Pursuit
COVID-19 Cases from Sarang Jeil Church Surpass 400

As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection related to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, exceeded 400, a notice prohibiting entry was posted on a building near Sarang Jeil Church on the 18th.
Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Su-wan] As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) related to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul continues to rise daily, criticism is growing against some church members who refuse treatment even after testing positive.

In particular, controversy has intensified as it has been reported that Jeon Gwang-hoon, the senior pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, his wife, and his secretary have also tested positive for COVID-19.

According to Paju City in Gyeonggi Province on the 18th, a man in his 50s, Mr. A, who tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a worship service at 8:23 a.m. that day and was undergoing isolation treatment at Paju Hospital, escaped from the hospital.

In response, Paju City Hall sent a safety text message at around 10:45 a.m. stating, "A man in his 50s, a resident from another region related to Sarang Jeil Church who was hospitalized at Paju Hospital as a COVID-19 confirmed patient, escaped early this morning and is currently wanted by the police. Citizens are advised to be cautious."

After reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, it was confirmed that Mr. A left the hospital at 12:18 a.m. that day.

Mr. A is a confirmed case related to Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul, who was diagnosed positive in Pyeongtaek City after attending a worship service on the 9th.

It is currently estimated that Mr. A has left Paju City, and the police and quarantine authorities are tracking his whereabouts.

This is not the first time a COVID-19 confirmed patient related to Sarang Jeil Church has refused treatment and escaped.

Previously, according to Pohang City, a woman in her 40s (Pohang case number 56) who tested positive for COVID-19 escaped during the transfer process to Andong Medical Center on the 17th.

The woman ran away at 12:19 p.m. from Daesin-dong, Buk-gu, Pohang, just before boarding the quarantine authorities' vehicle for transfer to Andong Medical Center.

It is reported that she bit her husband's hand and fled carrying a Bible. The 56th confirmed patient was caught by the police near the Chung-hon Tower in Deoksu Park, Buk-gu, Pohang at 4:25 p.m. the same day and was transferred to Andong Medical Center.

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

In particular, on the same day, according to Seoul City and Seongbuk-gu, Pastor Jeon underwent a COVID-19 diagnostic test at a hospital in Gwanak-gu, Seoul in the morning and tested positive in the afternoon. It is also known that Pastor Jeon's wife, Seo Mo, and his secretary tested positive, so the controversy is expected to continue.

As a result, citizens are expressing anxiety about COVID-19 infection and are outraged, calling the church members who participated in worship and gatherings and caused nationwide COVID-19 re-spread selfish.

Office worker Kim (28) said, "I just can't understand how someone can run away after testing positive. What if they spread COVID-19 to others during their escape?" He added, "Although some were caught on the same day, there are still church members being tracked, so I feel very anxious."

Housewife Kang (43), who has two elementary school children, said, "I thought the COVID-19 spread was slowing down and that 'now the kids can go to school,' but the explosive increase in church-related confirmed cases has taken us back to the beginning." She continued, "There are even church members who refuse treatment and run away; I don't know if they have any conscience. Why should innocent citizens suffer because of them? I'm so angry that I can't sleep well."

Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board Capture

Moreover, on the previous day (the 17th), a petition titled "Please severely punish **** Church for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act" was posted on the Blue House's national petition site.

The petitioner pointed out, "As the COVID-19 situation was easing, many confirmed cases have occurred at **** Church. Due to the number of church members, the increase rate of confirmed cases in Seoul is faster than the initial group outbreak from Shincheonji in Daegu," adding, "This church is currently breaking the law and causing harm to many citizens."

They continued, "This is an issue that cannot be overlooked," and urged, "Please severely punish the senior pastor and related persons of this church and claim damages from **** Church." As of 3:15 p.m. on the 18th, this petition had gained 2,559 supporters.

Meanwhile, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), confirmed COVID-19 patients who refuse treatment can be punished under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

Kim Kang-rip, the first chief coordinator of CDSCH, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Sejong Complex that morning, "If a patient refuses treatment or escapes, they violate quarantine measures and are subject to penalties under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act," adding, "They may face imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won."

Seoul City announced on the 18th that the nationwide cumulative number of confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church has risen to 438.

One church member was first confirmed positive on the 12th, followed by 314 cases until the 16th, and an additional 123 cases on the 17th. Among them, 282 confirmed cases are in Seoul. Sarang Jeil Church-related confirmed cases are the second largest cluster infection case in the country after the Shincheonji Daegu Church.

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