[Comprehensive] Citizens Crossing the Line with 'Quarantine Nuisance' by Escaping and Spitting During Self-Isolation "Furious"

Members of Sarangjeil Church flee, spit, causing quarantine confusion
Citizens "The whole nation is working hard" express 'frustration'
Government warns "Quarantine obstruction will be strictly punished"

On the afternoon of the 15th, a rally condemning "Corruption in the Moon Jae-in administration, abuse of power by Chu Mi-ae, and sexual harassment by Democratic Party local government heads" was held in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Juhee Kang] Amid a sharp increase in confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) related to the Seoul Gwanghwamun rally and Sarang Jeil Church held on the Liberation Day holiday on the 15th, anxiety among citizens is intensifying as the church members commit illegal acts such as refusing to cooperate with quarantine measures.

Some of them escaped from hospitals while under self-quarantine, staging a runaway incident, and caused disturbances such as hugging and spitting on public health center staff who urged them to undergo COVID-19 testing. As these disruptive acts by the church members continue, calls for strict punishment are growing louder.

The government has warned that it will respond strictly to acts that interfere with quarantine efforts and hold individuals legally accountable.

According to quarantine authorities on the 20th, at around 12:27 a.m. on the 18th, a man in his 50s, Mr. A, a Sarang Jeil Church evangelist who was hospitalized at Gyeonggi-do Medical Center Paju Hospital, left the hospital without permission.

Mr. A hid around the Paju area before taking the first bus at dawn to Seoul. Later, at around 10:30 a.m., he was seen near Hyehwa Station on Subway Line 4 and was confirmed to have stayed for about an hour at a cafe in Jongno-gu.

Mr. A was caught by police at a cafe in Sinchon at 1:20 a.m. on the 19th, just one day after his escape, and was readmitted to Gyeonggi-do Medical Center Paju Hospital. He reportedly claimed that "someone put poison in the kimchi soup" at Paju Hospital as the reason for his escape.

Confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus related to the Seoul Gwanghwamun rally held on Liberation Day (August 15) and Sarang Jeil Church are rapidly increasing. Photo by Yonhap News

In Pocheon City, Gyeonggi Province, a couple who are members of Sarang Jeil Church caused a disturbance by spitting and hugging public health center staff.

Two public health center workers visited the restaurant operated by the couple on the 17th, urging them to get tested for COVID-19 after attending the Liberation Day rally. However, the couple responded, "I have no symptoms, so why should I get tested?" and "You should get infected too. Since I touched you, you have to get tested," while removing their masks and spitting around, causing a disturbance.

The public health center requested police assistance and transported the couple to a screening clinic, and the couple tested positive the next day, on the 18th.

As COVID-19 spreads rapidly, especially in the metropolitan area, citizens are not only expressing anxiety but also outrage over the repeated deviant behavior of some church members.

A 20-something office worker, Mr. A, said, "They forced the rally despite warnings, spreading the infectious disease everywhere, and they are not cooperating with quarantine measures. It wastes the manpower of innocent medical staff and police and threatens ordinary citizens. What crime did the self-employed who have to suspend their businesses and the medical staff who suffered damage commit? They must be severely punished by law."

He added, "The entire nation is under extreme stress due to COVID-19. Just when things seemed to calm down a bit, I feel utterly frustrated and outraged."

Moreover, false information is spreading on online communities and social networking services (SNS), mainly among Sarang Jeil Church members and participants of the Gwanghwamun rally, such as "If you get tested at the public health center, you will definitely test positive," and "You cannot get infected with COVID-19 because the rally was held outdoors," further heightening citizens' anxiety.

As a result, public opinion is strongly demanding strict punishment for those who violate quarantine rules.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is speaking while presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting for COVID-19 response held at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City on the morning of the 14th. Photo by Yonhap News.

The government has warned that it will respond strictly to acts that interfere with quarantine efforts and hold individuals legally accountable.

Prime Minister Jeong Sye-kyun said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting held at the Government Seoul Office on the 19th, "We will strictly hold legally accountable those who interfere with diagnostic testing and epidemiological investigations by quarantine authorities," adding, "We will actively exercise claims for recovery of medical expenses and compensation for damages caused by additional infections."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung also emphasized regarding the repeated quarantine interference incidents in the province, "Interfering with quarantine is a clear criminal act that directly threatens the lives of residents and must be dealt with strictly. Issue strict action guidelines to each city and county to prevent recurrence of similar cases."

The Democratic Party of Korea has repeatedly proposed the so-called "Jeon Gwang-hoon Prohibition Act," which allows legal punishment for violating COVID-19 quarantine rules.

On the 20th, Representative Jeong Cheong-rae proposed the "Disaster and Safety Management Basic Act Amendment," which punishes those who violate orders prohibiting the use of areas and facilities with disaster risks.

The amendment includes provisions to punish those who disobey orders restricting or prohibiting the use of dangerous facilities or areas, forced evacuation or removal orders, and refusal to provide personal information of people who have suffered or are at risk of life or bodily harm due to disasters.

On the same day, Representative Lee Won-wook proposed an amendment to the "Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act" that punishes infectious disease patients who do not comply with quarantine officers' instructions or epidemiological investigations with up to five years imprisonment or fines up to 50 million won, and allows punishment for those using facilities or transportation used by unspecified many people.

Meanwhile, Seoul City announced on the 20th that from midnight on the 21st until the end of this month, all gatherings of 10 or more people will be banned throughout Seoul. This corresponds to a level 3 social distancing measure.

The city stated that organizers and participants of gatherings violating the ban may be reported to the police and could face fines of up to 3 million won under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

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