623 Confirmed Cases from Sarang Jeil Church in One Week... 588 in the Capital Area Alone, 'Mines Everywhere'

Incheon Accounts for Half of New Cases on 19th
Concerns Over Large-Scale Additional Infections in Medical Institutions and Others

On the 20th, as the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) continues, the alley leading to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul is being controlled. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where a cluster infection occurred, has exceeded 600 within a week. Confirmed cases have also been reported in nine other cities and provinces nationwide outside the metropolitan area, and 'secondary transmission' has been confirmed in other churches, call centers, hospitals, and social welfare facilities. As a result, the nationwide daily new confirmed cases are approaching 300, making a 'large-scale additional infection' a reality.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters announced on the 20th at midnight that the number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases in Korea increased by 288, bringing the total confirmed cases to 16,346. Since the 14th, the number of new confirmed cases has continuously recorded three digits, reaching 297 as of midnight on the 19th. Accordingly, the total number of confirmed cases over the week was counted at 1,576.

Among the 288 new confirmed cases on that day, 276 were locally transmitted, and 12 were imported from overseas. Among the locally transmitted cases, 135 were in Seoul, 81 in Gyeonggi, and 10 in Incheon, totaling 226 in the metropolitan area. Additionally, confirmed cases were reported in Busan (15), Daejeon (8), Gangwon, Jeonbuk, and Gyeongbuk (5 each), Chungnam (4), Daegu, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam (2 each), and Gwangju and Chungbuk (1 each).

In particular, the number of confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church is rapidly increasing, centered in the metropolitan area. As of noon the previous day, 166 additional confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church were reported nationwide, expanding the cumulative total to 623, and further infections have been confirmed in various places since then.

As of now, by region, Seoul has the highest cumulative confirmed cases at 393, followed by Gyeonggi with 160, and Incheon with 35, totaling 588 in the metropolitan area alone. Among the new confirmed cases announced on the 19th, four cases each were reported in Suwon and Namyangju, three each in Gwangju and Seongnam, two each in Anyang, Yongin, Gimpo, Bucheon, Hwaseong, Paju, and Pocheon, and one each in Uijeongbu, Pyeongtaek, Osan, Yeoju, Yangpyeong, and Gapyeong, indicating that confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church have occurred throughout Gyeonggi Province. In Incheon, the number of new COVID-19 confirmed cases increased by 12 compared to the previous day, of which six were related to Sarang Jeil Church.

Outside the metropolitan area, a total of 35 cases have been reported so far: 12 in Chungnam, 5 in Gyeongbuk, 5 in Gangwon, 4 in Jeonbuk, 3 in Busan, 2 in Daegu, 2 in Daejeon, 1 in Chungbuk, and 1 in Jeonnam, confirming infections in almost all cities and provinces nationwide. The health authorities explain that the reason confirmed cases are appearing nationwide is that although the church is located in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, its congregation is distributed across the country.

In particular, the cluster infection originating from Sarang Jeil Church is spreading widely to other churches, medical institutions, nursing facilities, call centers, and more. The health authorities are currently conducting epidemiological investigations on a total of 114 facilities, including 33 schools and academies, 7 daycare centers and kindergartens, 19 social welfare facilities and medical institutions, and 5 religious facilities visited by confirmed cases from this church. At a specialized physical education entrance exam academy near Sarang Jeil Church, at least 16 students, including high school seniors preparing for college entrance exams, have tested positive, raising alarms.

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