Health Authorities Attempt Overnight to Secure Sarang Jeil Church Congregation List... Church Opposes

KCDC, Police, and Seoul City Conduct Epidemiological Investigation at Sarang Jeil Church
Church Uncooperative, Revisit Scheduled at 5 PM
Nearly 4 Hours of Standoff... No Physical Clashes Occurred

On the afternoon of the 20th, police and church officials, along with worshippers, are confronting each other during an epidemiological investigation at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where a large number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have occurred. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] The quarantine authorities visited Sarang Jeil Church to obtain the list of church members, but it is reported that they were unable to acquire an accurate list due to the church's opposition and non-cooperation.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and Seongbuk District Office, along with the police, visited the church around 5 p.m. on the 20th. The investigation aimed to secure an accurate list of worshippers who visited the church during the period when a mass infection occurred. Earlier that day, the health authorities had visited the church around 10 a.m., but the investigation was canceled as the church insisted that "a lawyer must be present."

The quarantine authorities judged that the list of 900 worshippers previously submitted by Sarang Jeil Church could not be trusted and decided to conduct an on-site investigation. The church estimates the number of members to be between 2,000 and 3,000.

At the site that day, church officials blocked the quarantine authorities and police from entering, resulting in a standoff lasting nearly four hours between both sides, but no physical confrontation reportedly occurred.

However, the church ultimately did not open the doors and prevented entry, so the quarantine authorities were unable to secure the relevant data.

The quarantine authorities are reportedly considering attempting to enter the church again today (the 21st). The authorities have stated that they intend to secure an accurate list of church members for quarantine purposes, even if the investigation takes a long time.

In response, the church opposed the government, claiming that the government is inflating the number of confirmed cases related to the church.

Jeon Gwang-hoon, the senior pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, issued a public statement on the 20th, saying, "The government is forcing unlimited testing on Sarang Jeil Church, groups participating in the Liberation Day rally, and the general public involved, thereby expanding the number of confirmed cases," and demanded, "Disclose the confirmed cases accurately as a ratio, not as a number."

Meanwhile, according to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of 12 p.m. that day, the cumulative number of confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church was 676. An additional 53 cases were confirmed since 12 p.m. the previous day.

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