'No Entry for Public Officials' 279 Churches in Busan Proceed with In-Person Worship Services

Busan Christian Council "Cannot Agree to Administrative Order... Violation of Religious Freedom"
City Reviews Administrative Sanctions for Order Violations

On the morning of the 23rd, a notice prohibiting public officials from entering was posted at a church in Busanjin-gu, Busan. Despite Busan City's ban on in-person worship services at local churches under the social distancing level 2 measures, some churches in the Busan area proceeded with on-site worship services.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Despite the assembly restriction order issued to churches in the Busan area on the 23rd due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), some churches went ahead with on-site worship services. The city announced that if on-site worship services continue next Sunday, the church representatives will be criminally charged.

According to Busan City on the afternoon of the same day, a joint inspection of 1,765 churches, including those affiliated with the Busan Christian Council (Bugichong), found that 279 churches violated the administrative order and held in-person worship services. Previously, the city had issued an administrative order allowing only non-face-to-face worship services in local churches until the 31st.

However, on the 22nd, the Busan Christian Council (Bugichong) stirred controversy by sending an official letter to about 1,800 churches in the Busan area urging the withdrawal of the city’s administrative order.

Most of the churches that violated the non-face-to-face administrative order on this day are estimated to be small to medium-sized churches. In the case of larger churches, the majority conducted worship services online.

Busanjin-gu Peace Church, where Lim Young-moon, president of Bugichong, serves as pastor, also held on-site worship services on the 23rd. Notably, a notice banning public officials from entering was posted at the church entrance.

The city stated its position that it will take legal action if non-face-to-face worship services are forcibly held in the future. Acting Mayor of Busan, Byun Sung-wan, visited Peace Church on the morning of the 23rd and held a private meeting with Pastor Lim for about 40 minutes.

Before meeting Acting Mayor Byun, Pastor Lim told reporters, "Less than 10% of small churches in South Korea can hold non-face-to-face worship services," and added, "Worship is our life, and the current administrative order infringes on the constitutional fundamental right of religious freedom."

In an emergency briefing in the afternoon, Acting Mayor Byun said, "This is a challenge to the national quarantine system and the legitimate exercise of public authority, as well as a threat to citizen safety," and added, "Churches that forcibly held in-person worship services today will be subject to a ban on gatherings after verification of clear violations of the order, and if they violate this again, they will be reported to the police."

If a church that violates the health authorities’ policy receives this order, all personnel will be prohibited from entering until the 31st.

Meanwhile, on the 15th, the city issued an administrative order requiring attendees of the Gwanghwamun rally on Liberation Day to undergo testing by 6 p.m. on the 24th. If they fail to get tested within the period and are confirmed positive for COVID-19, the city plans to claim comprehensive compensation for their hospitalization costs, as well as testing costs for contacts, living support expenses for those in self-quarantine, and business losses of visited establishments.

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