"Participants of Gwanghwamun Rally, Pay for COVID-19 Treatment Themselves" Citizens Frustrated Over COVID-19 Spread

Sarangjeil Church COVID-19 Cases Total 438
'Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon Must Cover All COVID-19 Treatment Costs' Petition Appears at Blue House

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]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) related to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, has exceeded 430, voices demanding punishment for those associated with the church are growing, especially on the Blue House's national petition board.

In particular, one petitioner referred to the church members who attended the Gwanghwamun rally as 'illegal participants' and argued that COVID-19 patients related to the rally should pay for their own treatment.

Earlier, conservative groups including Sarang Jeil Church and the Liberty Solidarity forcibly held a large-scale protest in downtown Seoul near Gyeongbokgung Station on August 15, Liberation Day, despite the Seoul city government's order to ban gatherings.

Since this protest, confirmed cases have surged. On the 18th, Seoul city announced that the nationwide cumulative number of confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church has increased to 438.

According to Seoul city, as of now, 1,559 church members and visitors have been tested by health authorities, with 996 testing negative and the remaining undergoing testing.

On the 17th, a petition titled "Requesting that COVID-19 confirmed cases among participants of the August 15 Gwanghwamun protest bear their own medical expenses" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. Photo by Blue House National Petition Board capture.

As the cluster infection originating from Sarang Jeil Church spreads, critical voices against the church members are emerging on the Blue House's national petition board. In particular, some citizens argue that COVID-19 patients who attended the Gwanghwamun rally should bear all medical expenses themselves.

On the 17th, a petition titled "Request to make COVID-19 confirmed cases among participants of the August 15 Gwanghwamun rally pay for their own treatment" was posted on the Blue House national petition board. As of 3 PM on the 18th, the petition had garnered over 74,690 signatures.

The petitioner stated, "I understand that the only officially permitted gathering on August 15 at Gwanghwamun was about 100 people around the Dongwha Duty-Free Shop area," adding, "However, the rally exceeded 100 people. The numerous people beyond the limit are considered illegal participants."

He continued, "Not only did they participate illegally, but they also failed to practice social distancing in a confined space and engaged in conversations and meals without wearing masks," emphasizing, "Ignoring the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and failing to practice distancing and mask-wearing, these people brought the risk upon themselves. It is not right for the state to pay for their treatment with taxpayers' money."

He added, "They are lawbreakers who did not comply with the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. If the state covers their treatment, who will practice distancing and wear uncomfortable masks in the future?" and "If these confirmed cases are not made to pay for their own treatment, it will inevitably lead to reckless behavior that makes infectious disease control difficult."

Furthermore, the petitioner urged, "Many citizens hope not only for self-payment of treatment but also for claims for damages caused to the state and society by these participants," and "Therefore, I hope that the treatment of confirmed cases from this rally will be at their own expense."

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]

There was also a petition criticizing Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, who led the rally. In a petition titled "Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon should bear all COVID-19 treatment costs himself," the petitioner said, "Please take measures to make Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, who disrupted COVID-19 prevention with all kinds of agitation and rallies and contracted COVID-19 himself, bear his own treatment costs." As of 3 PM on the 18th, the petition had received about 2,800 signatures.

Previously, Pastor Jeon was confirmed positive for COVID-19. According to health authorities, Pastor Jeon underwent a COVID-19 test at a hospital in Gwanak-gu in the morning and was confirmed positive in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, on the 16th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and Seoul city filed a complaint against Pastor Jeon for violating mandatory self-quarantine and omitting the church member list.

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