Prosecutors Indict 354 Cases Related to COVID-19 Quarantine Violations and Others

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] It has been confirmed that the prosecution has referred more than 350 cases related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) to trial since February of this year. The majority of these cases involve violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, such as breaches of self-quarantine rules.

According to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the 24th, from February this year until 9 a.m. today, there have been 480 COVID-19 related cases that the prosecution has either completed investigating or is currently investigating. Among these, 354 cases have been referred to trial.

By charge, violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, including breaches of gathering restriction orders and obstruction of epidemiological investigations, accounted for the largest number with 356 cases. Of these, 300 were prosecuted, and 13 were referred to trial while in custody.

Additionally, cases involving obstruction of official duties through deception such as false reporting, dissemination of false information, and defamation numbered 87, making it the second largest category. Trials are underway for nearly half of these, with 38 cases currently in progress. Other cases included 37 related to official secrets leakage such as the unauthorized disclosure of confirmed patient information and violations of the Personal Information Protection Act, with 16 of these prosecuted.

Earlier, on the 18th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office instructed the COVID-19 Response Headquarters and the COVID-19 response teams at high and district prosecutors' offices nationwide to strictly respond to offenders obstructing quarantine activities. When COVID-19 first spread in February, a 'COVID-19 Response Task Force (TF)' was formed. Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol directed the TF to minimize summons and investigations of suspects and witnesses and to postpone courthouse tour programs as part of related measures. Subsequently, in April, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office also instructed frontline prosecutors' offices to conduct detention investigations under the Quarantine Act against those who intentionally refuse quarantine measures and spread COVID-19, thereby obstructing government quarantine policies.

Meanwhile, the prosecution plans to provide daily statistics on investigations of COVID-19 guideline violations at 2 p.m. every day.

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