Police Launch Investigation into Pastor of Sarang Jeil Church... 'Suspected of Obstructing Testing of Symptomatic Congregant'

On the 25th, Choi In-sik, Secretary General of the National Emergency Response Committee for the 815 Rally participants, and Lee Dong-ho, a committee member, held a press conference condemning the government in front of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. They addressed President Moon Jae-in, saying, "Stop threatening the public under the pretext of quarantine." They also raised their voices, stating, "We hope the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency only speaks and acts to protect the health and lives of the people." / Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The police have launched an investigation into a pastor who was reported for delaying the diagnostic testing of congregants at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, where a cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred.

According to the police on the 28th, the Intelligent Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has booked Pastor A of the church on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and has begun a full-scale investigation.

Pastor A is suspected of requesting a congregant in their 70s, who was preparing for the Liberation Day rally on the 14th and showed COVID-19 related symptoms such as fever, to postpone the diagnostic test until after the rally. This congregant was confirmed positive for COVID-19 and is currently undergoing isolation treatment. The Seoul city government has filed a complaint against Pastor A.

The police plan to summon and investigate Pastor A as soon as his quarantine period ends, considering that he is classified as a contact of a confirmed case and is currently under self-quarantine.

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