'4.6 Million Won Per Person'... Who Will Bear Jeon Gwang-hoon's Medical Expenses?

Growing Calls for Full Coverage of Treatment Costs
Possible Claim for Compensation if Quarantine Violations Hinder Prevention Efforts
COVID-19 Patient Treatment Costs Exceed Approximately 4.6 Million KRW Per Person
Significant Amount Expected in Compensation Lawsuits Filed by Local Governments

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), is seen leaving the Sarang Jeil Church parsonage in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 17th and boarding a vehicle from the Seongbuk Public Health Center. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As the number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) related to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul continues to surge, criticism is pouring in that the treatment costs for Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon and the church members at the center of this incident should be borne by individuals, not the state. Currently, for those who violated quarantine rules such as self-isolation, it is possible to claim compensation for costs, drawing attention to whether this will actually be enforced.

Earlier, Pastor Jeon was diagnosed with COVID-19 on the 17th and was transferred to Seoul Medical Center in Jungnang-gu, a hospital dedicated to COVID-19. He is currently receiving inpatient treatment in a negative pressure isolation room within the medical center.

At the time of transfer to the hospital, Pastor Jeon was caught on media cameras wearing a so-called 'mask under the chin' style, smiling brightly while using his mobile phone, sparking controversy over his attitude. Critics argue that such behavior is inappropriate for the senior pastor of a church where hundreds of confirmed cases have accumulated.

Additionally, on the 15th, despite being subject to self-isolation, he directly participated in the Liberation Day rally held in Gwanghwamun, stating, "The district office came to our church and notified me that I was designated for quarantine," and "I am perfectly fine and have no fever," raising suspicions of violating self-isolation rules.

As a result, voices have emerged demanding that Pastor Jeon and the Sarang Jeil Church members bear the full cost of their treatment.

On the same day, a petition was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board urging the government to claim treatment costs, stating, "It is not right to treat people who ignored the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and brought danger upon themselves with taxpayers' money," and it received over 100,000 endorsements within a day.

Currently, the government advances the full cost of COVID-19 patient treatment. This is a measure to suppress COVID-19 infections and to avoid hindering government quarantine activities.

However, for those who violate self-isolation, various support funds and claims for compensation are possible. Also, if a person who tested positive during the self-isolation period leaves the quarantine location and intentionally spreads the infectious disease to others, resulting in additional treatment costs, claims for compensation for these costs are possible.

On the afternoon of the 16th, quarantine officials are conducting disinfection work at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where a COVID-19 cluster infection occurred. / Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, the government warned that it would claim compensation from individuals and businesses that violated COVID-19 quarantine rules. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun strongly recommended the suspension of religious and entertainment facilities in March, stating, "If operation is unavoidable, all measures prescribed by law, including claims for compensation, will be actively taken if compliance with facility-specific rules is not observed."

In June, he also mentioned, "For businesses that violate quarantine rules, if infections occur, claims for treatment and quarantine costs will be made." However, to date, the government has not filed any claims for compensation.

However, some local governments have filed claims for compensation against individuals who intentionally concealed their movement paths or gave false statements during quarantine procedures. Gwangju City filed a claim on the 20th of last month against patient number 60 in Songpa, Seoul, who gave false statements about their movement path.

Daegu Metropolitan City filed a lawsuit for damages on June 18 against Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), and its leader Lee Man-hee.

At that time, Daegu City stated that enormous costs were incurred for diagnostic tests for Shincheonji members, operation of residential treatment centers, hospital inpatient treatment, and support for self-isolating individuals, explaining that the claim was to recover costs spent publicly for quarantine activities and infectious disease treatment.

Like these cases, if local governments claim compensation from Pastor Jeon and Sarang Jeil Church, the amount is expected to be substantial.

According to National Health Insurance data, as of the 23rd of last month, a total of 69.5 billion KRW was spent on hospitalization treatment for 15,132 domestic and foreign COVID-19 patients. Since the specific costs for foreign patients are separately calculated, this is not an exact total, but a simple calculation suggests that the treatment cost per person is about 4.6 million KRW.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of 12 PM on the 18th, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to Sarang Jeil Church was 457. Assuming a treatment cost of 4.6 million KRW per person, a simple calculation shows that over 2.1 billion KRW could be claimed.

Meanwhile, Seoul City announced that it will hold Pastor Jeon and Sarang Jeil Church accountable for the spread of COVID-19 infections.

Seo Jeong-hyeop, Acting Mayor of Seoul, stated at a regular briefing held at Seoul City Hall on the morning of the 16th, "We will file charges against Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon and church officials for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act." The city also emphasized that if confirmed patients refuse testing, they may be fined up to 2 million KRW under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, and claims for compensation can be made in case of confirmed cases.

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