"Not Sick, Fine" Jeon Gwang-hoon, Joo Ok-soon, Shin Hye-sik Spark 'Quarantine Obstruction' Controversy from Hospital Beds

Right-wing figures including Jeon Gwang-hoon exaggerate 'COVID-19' symptoms from hospital bed
Comments downplaying COVID as mild spread mainly on YouTube... Concerns over hindrance to quarantine efforts
Jung Eun-kyung: "Measures will be taken if issues persist"

Jeon Gwang-hoon, Senior Pastor of Sarang Jeil Church. The photo shows Pastor Jeon attending the first trial session of the first instance held at the Seoul Central District Court on June 29, after being indicted on charges including violation of the Public Official Election Act. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Yeonju Kim] Shin Hye-sik, the head of the YouTube channel 'Shinui Hansu,' who tested positive for COVID-19, is causing controversy by effectively harming medical staff by criticizing the hospital meals through YouTube live broadcasts from his hospital room.

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church has caused confusion among citizens receiving news of COVID-19 positive cases by stating that he has no symptoms. Additionally, Joo Ok-soon, head of the 'Mom Corps,' mentioned that the symptoms are quickly improving, raising concerns that their claims might be lowering public vigilance against COVID-19.

Pastor Jeon spoke with Ms. Joo for about 30 minutes on the morning of the 24th. Pastor Jeon was diagnosed with COVID-19 on the 17th and is currently in isolation treatment at Seoul Medical Center. Ms. Joo was also diagnosed positive and is hospitalized. Their conversation was broadcast externally through the YouTube channel operated by Ms. Joo.

Regarding his health condition, Pastor Jeon said, "I had some coughing when I entered the hospital, but after taking the medicine given here, it has greatly subsided," adding, "My temperature is normal, and my blood pressure is fine."

Also, Kang Yeon-jae, Pastor Jeon's lawyer who held a press conference in front of Sarang Jeil Church that day, stated about Pastor Jeon's health, "There is no significant difference between before entering the hospital and now."

Conservative-leaning YouTube channel 'Sinui Hansu' CEO Shin Hye-sik broadcasting after being diagnosed with COVID-19. Photo by Yonhap News. Screenshot from 'Sinui Hansu' video.

If we accept the claims of Pastor Jeon and lawyer Kang, the symptoms of COVID-19 appear no different from those of a common cold. Similarly, Shin Hye-sik also said through his broadcast after testing positive, "I don't feel sick. I'm perfectly fine."

Ms. Joo, after testing positive, also claimed on her broadcast, "After taking medicine, my cough completely subsided. It's hard to distinguish early COVID-19 symptoms from a cold," and "Since I've been resting, I wake up in the morning without coughing at all and am recovering well."

Summarizing their claims, COVID-19 symptoms seem trivial. However, there are reports from recovered patients that even after being declared cured, severe aftereffects such as mental confusion occur. Despite this, as claims like those of Pastor Jeon spread, a kind of fake news is also spreading, suggesting that COVID-19 symptoms have been exaggerated contrary to known facts.

In the comments on the related content, netizens responded by believing the YouTubers' words, saying things like, "It seems like anyone who speaks the truth is sent to hospital jail," "They might get infected in the hospital after being fine," "They're trying to herd church members to health centers," "They're locking up healthy people," and "Testing should be done only if symptoms exist, so admitting people without any symptoms makes no sense."

Photo by Yonhap News

As such remarks that undermine vigilance against COVID-19 continue, recovered patients and medical staff have come forward to emphasize the dangers of COVID-19 and the importance of personal hygiene.

Lee Jeong-hwan (25), a recovered patient who was declared cured in May, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 24th and said, "The pain was so severe that I couldn't sleep even for an hour a day. It was unimaginably painful," emphasizing, "I hope many people see cases like mine and become more vigilant by wearing masks properly and washing hands well."

Regarding some confirmed patients claiming they had no significant pain, he pointed out, "It might be because it's early and they are asymptomatic, but the situation can quickly change to symptomatic, with life and death hanging in the balance," adding, "I think it's better not to make such hasty statements."

He further explained, "When I hear conspiracy theories that COVID-19 is exaggerated, I find it utterly ridiculous," and "I went through a near-death crisis, so painful it was like meeting the Grim Reaper."

Choi Won-young, a nurse at Seoul National University Hospital, also criticized some COVID-19 patients' YouTube broadcasts during an interview on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' saying, "Personal content is fine, but spreading false information about COVID-19 is an act that exhausts medical staff."

Meanwhile, Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, warned on the 24th about the conservative camp's claims, including Sarang Jeil Church, that COVID-19 is exaggerated, stating, "If such issues continue to be raised, we will firmly take necessary measures."

At the briefing that day, Director Jung emphasized, "The quarantine measures taken by the authorities have been approached with principles to overcome the COVID-19 outbreak without any deception or discrimination."

According to the quarantine authorities that day, the number of confirmed cases linked to Sarang Jeil Church was counted at 875. The number of confirmed cases related to the rally held around Gwanghwamun on Liberation Day increased by 40 in one day, reaching 176.

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