False Lists, Test Refusals, and Distrust in Epidemiological Investigations... Church Says "Government Is Playing Games with COVID"

Accumulated COVID-19 Cases at Sarang Jeil Church Reach 841 in About 10 Days
Some Congregants Still Avoid Testing
Church States "Do Not Trust Government Quarantine Measures Including Epidemiological Investigation"
Prime Minister and Quarantine Officials Announce Intent to File Complaints and Lawsuits

On the afternoon of the 23rd, church officials and legal representatives held a press conference in front of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, urging the government to revoke the ban on worship services and condemning Minister of Health and Welfare Park Neung-hoo.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, announced on the 23rd that it would file complaints and charges against Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and other officials responsible for quarantine measures, claiming that the government's stringent quarantine measures are unjust.

Choi In-sik, Secretary General of the church's Emergency Countermeasures Committee, and others issued a statement containing these claims at a press conference held in front of the church on the same day, arguing that the search and seizure conducted the previous day and the quarantine measures taken so far were wrong. At the same time, the church's legal representatives declared a tough stance by filing complaints and charges against various government quarantine measures.

Specifically, the targets include the Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency who conducted the search and seizure the previous day, and Park Neung-hoo, First Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), who ordered the suspension of church services. Church lawyer Ko Young-il stated, "The seizure of Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon's phone was carried out without the participation of defense counsel, violating the right to defense," and added, "The ban on worship services under the pretext of quarantine is an abuse of authority, coercion, and obstruction of worship, and Minister Park Neung-hoo should be arrested and investigated." Lawyer Kang Jae-yeon also expressed the intention to file a complaint against Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, saying, "The government is targeting and trying to destroy specific individuals or groups."

Jung Eun-kyung, Head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters

False Lists and Escapes During Treatment... Quarantine Measures Undermined Everywhere
Authorities: "Analyzing Information Secured Through Search and Seizure for Additional Measures"

Since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 at Sarang Jeil Church on the 12th, the cluster infection has grown to 841 cases (as of 12 PM on the day), making it the second-largest cluster outbreak in South Korea after the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu (5,214 cases). So far, 168 facilities visited by confirmed cases have been identified, and among them, 21 places had infections involving individuals not directly related to Sarang Jeil Church. The number of secondary infections, or n-th generation infections, alone reaches 112.

The problem is that even after confirmed cases emerged, many visitors to the church failed to properly submit their visitor lists or refused to undergo diagnostic testing, indicating a lack of cooperation with the authorities' quarantine measures. As the number of outbreak clusters increases, it has become difficult to conduct epidemiological investigations promptly, and this non-cooperation has delayed contact tracing and the breaking of transmission chains. There were even church members who fled during treatment after being confirmed positive.

According to quarantine authorities, approximately 3,700 people who visited the church or are potentially infected have been estimated. This number may change after the government cross-checks the lists secured through the search and seizure. Although more than ten days have passed since the cluster outbreak was revealed, there are still individuals who have not been contacted or who refuse to undergo diagnostic testing even after contact.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing on the day, "About 3,600 people have been tested, and among them, about 750 have been confirmed positive," adding, "There are still some cases where contact has not been made or where individuals claim they did not attend." She further stated, "By comparing and analyzing the information secured during the search and seizure, we will be able to verify the accurate list and take appropriate measures."

On the morning of the 21st, at a press conference condemning the fake quarantine martial law of the Moon Jae-in administration held in front of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, lawyer Kang Yeon-jae, the attorney of Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, is speaking.

Sarang Jeil Church Holds Three Press Conferences
"Quarantine Measures Are Deceptive and Threatening... Government Is Playing Games with COVID-19"

Although there have been several church-related cluster infections in South Korea over the past seven months, including Shincheonji, the active resistance to government quarantine measures by Sarang Jeil Church stands out. The church has held three press conferences, including one on this day, systematically refuting the measures and sharing false information through SNS and messengers, such as claims that "Sarang Jeil Church members are automatically diagnosed as positive," denying the government's quarantine response.

Unlike the passive resistance seen in cluster outbreaks originating from Shincheonji or Itaewon clubs, where test subjects hid, the situation here is different. Lawyer Kang argued that the current quarantine measures classifying cluster infection patients are wrong, raising his voice by saying, "The government's quarantine measures are deceptive, threatening, and inciting," and "The government is playing games."

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