[Initial Moment] The Lament of Protestantism That Could Not Stop 'COVID-19'

The concerns that once seemed unlikely have ultimately become reality. Due to the implementation of 'Social Distancing Level 2' measures in response to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), citizens in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul, are currently prohibited from attending concerts or performances, as well as holding weddings or funerals with more than 50 people indoors. Large academies have also closed, leaving students preparing for entrance exams in a difficult situation. The government has urged people to stay home as much as possible for at least two weeks, except for essential outings such as commuting, purchasing necessities, or visiting hospitals. At this point, even ordinary citizens who are not confirmed cases are effectively under semi-quarantine.

It is frustrating for the public, who must endure an inconvenient and anxious daily life again, to wonder why the Gwanghwamun rally on Liberation Day was not prevented earlier, or why religious gatherings were not more actively banned. While the government may have considered the inconvenience to citizens and the economic impact, it is regrettable that the efforts and hard work put into quarantine measures have been wasted, only increasing the fatigue of medical staff. As confirmed cases surge by hundreds nationwide each day, public concern is spreading beyond the epicenter, Sarang Jeil Church and Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, to a broader outrage against Protestantism as a whole.

In fact, the risk of infection spreading centered around specific spaces like churches has been pointed out since the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak. This is because the environment inside churches?where worshippers sit close together in enclosed spaces, praying and singing hymns?makes droplet (saliva) infection more likely. The characteristic church activities, such as group meals and small gatherings after services, also increase this risk, leading health authorities to recommend restraint. However, even during the 'high-intensity social distancing' period in March, when most churches tried to comply with government policies through online services, some churches still protested, claiming that restrictions on worship methods were religious oppression.

The government has also shown a cautious attitude to avoid controversies over infringing on religious freedom. It was careful in designating religious facilities as high-risk venues, and lifted the order restricting small gatherings within churches just two weeks after it was implemented in July. Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo expressed regret in an interview with a media outlet, saying, "At that time, the religious community strongly requested the lifting of the ban on small gatherings," and added, "I think we should have maintained the ban instead of lifting it."

Ultimately, the large-scale rally on the 15th, mixed with conservative groups, and the subsequent cluster infection originating from Sarang Jeil Church became a recurrence of the Shincheonji Jesus Church cluster infection centered in Daegu in February this year. As voices criticizing the entire church without distinguishing between heresy and Protestantism grow louder, and the sentiment against churches escalates to outright hatred, the Protestant community now appears greatly unsettled. Considering the nature of Korean Protestantism, which operates around individual churches rather than a central organization like Catholicism or Buddhism, it seems difficult to avoid responsibility for merely watching the situation deteriorate to this extent. Within the Protestant community, which neither declared joint quarantine measures to prevent church-related infection spread nor actively restrained Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon?who did not hesitate to engage in radical acts for political purposes?voices of self-reflection are finally emerging. There are even lamentations calling this "an existential crisis in the history of the Korean church."

Several church organizations, including the Korea Christian Federation, the Korea Christian Pastors' Association, and the Korea Holiness Church Federation, issued statements on the 18th. They expressed deep remorse, saying, "We deeply regret the Korean church's insufficient interdenominational joint response to the spread of church-related infections," and "We humbly apologize for the church's failure to serve as a model for society and fulfill its social responsibility in eradicating the infectious disease." Hopefully, their apologies are not too late to prevent further spread of COVID-19 and to alleviate public anger.

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