Health Authorities and Police Conduct On-Site Investigation at Sarang Jeil Church... Attempt to Obtain Congregation List

On the afternoon of the 20th, at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where a large number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) occurred, officials, church members, and police are confronting each other ahead of the epidemiological investigation by health authorities.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Quarantine authorities are attempting to obtain the list of congregants at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where a cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred.

A Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency official visited Sarang Jeil Church around 5 p.m. on the 20th along with officials from Seoul City, Seongbuk-gu, and police officers. However, the church's lawyers and officials refused entry, demanding a search warrant.

After a standoff lasting about three hours, some quarantine officials entered the church around 8 p.m., according to a Seongbuk-gu official. At that time, conservative YouTubers near the church spread false information claiming that the police were forcibly demolishing the church, which led some congregants to protest against the police.

Earlier, quarantine authorities had also visited the church around 10 a.m. that day, but were unable to enter as church officials refused to cooperate without a lawyer present.

The quarantine authorities reportedly visited Sarang Jeil Church to conduct an epidemiological investigation and secure the list of congregants.

Meanwhile, according to the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), as of 12 noon that day, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to Sarang Jeil Church reached a total of 676.

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