Park Neung-hoo: "Biggest Concern is Gwangbokjeol Rally and Sarang Jeil Church... Get Tested Immediately"

Park Neung-hoo, the 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) (Minister of Health and Welfare, left), is speaking while presiding over the CDSCH meeting on COVID-19 response held at the Government Sejong Complex in Sejong City on the morning of the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Juhee] The government has identified the Liberation Day rally and Sarang Jeil Church as the biggest risk factors for the spread of COVID-19 cluster infections and has urged active testing.

Park Neung-hoo, the first deputy head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and Minister of Health and Welfare, said at the CDSCH meeting held at the Government Sejong Complex on the 20th, "The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Korea has remained in the triple digits for a week, and the cluster infection at Sarang Jeil Church is spreading through confirmed patients' families, workplaces, and multi-use facilities they visited, leading to an increase in secondary and tertiary infections."

He continued, "What we are particularly concerned about is the spread of infection through the Gwanghwamun rally held on the 15th, which was attended by an unspecified large number of people," and emphasized, "To prevent the large-scale cluster infection that started from the church from spreading into nationwide n-th infections, the cooperation of the public is urgently needed."

He added, "Those who attended the Gwanghwamun rally and those who attended worship, lectures, or meetings at Sarang Jeil Church are requested to get tested at screening clinics. We earnestly ask for immediate action."

Regarding the false information spreading among Sarang Jeil Church members that "if you get tested, you will definitely be confirmed positive," Park said, "The quarantine authorities are making efforts in diagnosis and tracing, but spreading false information and fake news does not help quarantine efforts," and urged once again, "Please actively cooperate even now."

He went on to say, "This is a critical time to practice quarantine rules, so please wear masks properly without hanging them on your chin or exposing your nose," and added, "Refrain from unnecessary outings and gatherings, and even when using multi-use facilities such as cafes, please do not stay for long."

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