"'National Menace' Jeon Gwang-hoon Reincarcerated" Blue House Petition Surpasses 300,000 in Four Days

Prime Minister Jeong: "If Jeon Gwang-hoon's Church Obstructs Quarantine, Treatment Costs Will Be Reclaimed and Compensation Demanded"

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who tested positive for COVID-19, was seen leaving the Sarang Jeil Church parsonage in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 17th, moving to board a Seongbuk Health Center vehicle. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, head pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, has sparked public outrage for pushing ahead with the August 15 Liberation Day rally and encouraging his followers to participate. Meanwhile, a Blue House petition calling for Pastor Jeon's re-imprisonment has garnered over 300,000 signatures just four days after being posted on the 19th.

On August 15, a petition titled "We urge the re-imprisonment of the 'public nuisance' Jeon**" was posted on the Blue House petition board. As of 2:30 p.m. on the 19th, the petition had recorded 307,787 participants. The petition met the requirement of obtaining more than 200,000 signatures within 30 days to receive an official response from the Blue House.

The petitioner stated, "Jeon**, the head pastor of the church, was released on bail on April 20. The plea of 'risk of sudden death' was effective," and criticized, "What was the result? After being released on bail, Jeon has been relentlessly holding various rallies attended by thousands, obsessively collecting membership fees and offerings, and has even rendered the efforts of quarantine authorities striving to end the COVID-19 pandemic futile."

He added, "Although a large number of COVID-19 cases have occurred at the church where Jeon is the head pastor, there is no sign of remorse or concern for the health of the congregation," and claimed, "This is an outrage that cannot be justified in the name of religion."

He continued, "The church should be the last bastion of social safety nets," and pointed out, "Jeon, who ignores the reality of overlapping disasters and focuses solely on 'money' and 'power,' is only making our society sick."

He urged, "Please ensure that Jeon, who harms our society's safety under the guise of religion, is re-imprisoned. Jeon's detention is a new beginning for quarantine."

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. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, according to Seoul city and others on the 17th, Pastor Jeon tested positive for COVID-19 that day. It was reported that Pastor Jeon underwent COVID-19 testing at Yangji Hospital in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, along with his assistant pastor. It is also known that Pastor Jeon's wife, Seo**, and his secretary tested positive.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency as of 12 p.m. on the 19th, the total number of confirmed cases at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu reached 623, an increase of 166 from the previous day.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said at the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office that day, "In a situation where nationwide spread of infections originating from Sarang Jeil Church is a concern, the church has not submitted an accurate list, and diagnostic testing has not yet been completed."

Prime Minister Chung warned, "The government will strictly hold legally responsible those who obstruct diagnostic testing and epidemiological investigations by quarantine authorities," and added, "Furthermore, we will actively exercise claims for reimbursement of medical expenses and compensation for damages caused by additional infections."

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