Gyeonggi-do Reports and Bans Gatherings at 34 Churches for Quarantine Violations

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will file charges through the relevant city and county against two churches that obstructed the entry of public officials conducting quarantine inspections on the 23rd of last month, received an administrative order to suspend gatherings, yet held in-person worship services again on the 30th of the same month and refused entry to inspection officials.

On the 1st, Gyeonggi Province announced that as a result of an inspection team composed of 5,081 provincial and city/county officials investigating 7,549 churches in the province on the 30th of last month, it decided to take strict action against 34 churches that violated quarantine rules, including the two churches mentioned above.

According to the province, a total of 118 churches violated quarantine rules that day; 114 churches held in-person worship services. The remaining four churches held non-face-to-face services but exceeded the essential personnel limit of 20 or had multiple people leading hymns.

The province plans to issue complaints and administrative orders to suspend gatherings to 34 churches with serious violations such as refusal of inspection, violation of core quarantine rules, and repeated in-person worship services.

First, two churches obstructed the entry of public officials during inspections on the 23rd of last month. Despite already having received administrative orders to suspend gatherings, they held in-person worship services and obstructed the entry of officials conducting quarantine inspections.

The other 32 churches held in-person worship services on both the 23rd and the 30th of last month. Among them, one church received a strict warning last week for violating quarantine rules but held in-person worship services this time, and another church violated core quarantine rules such as not wearing masks and holding small group meetings during in-person worship.

The province will issue administrative orders to suspend gatherings for two weeks through city and county authorities to these 32 churches that repeatedly held in-person worship services or violated quarantine rules.

If these 32 churches and their congregants violate the administrative order to suspend gatherings again, the province will file charges against all members under Article 80, Clause 7 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act and will strictly respond by claiming quarantine costs such as testing, investigation, and treatment if confirmed cases occur.

The province also stated that the remaining 80 churches that held in-person worship services on the 30th and the four churches that violated non-face-to-face worship guidelines will face strong measures such as complaints if repeated violations of quarantine rules are confirmed.

Oh Tae-seok, Director of the Provincial Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, said, "As the quarantine achievements built by the government and the public are being seriously shaken, strict measures have been taken due to some churches repeatedly violating quarantine rules," adding, "This action is not prejudice against religion but an unavoidable measure for the life and safety of residents. We urge Christian leaders and congregants to comply with quarantine rules to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

Meanwhile, under the strengthened quarantine measures for churches in the Gyeonggi, Seoul, and Incheon areas to prevent the spread of COVID-19, only 'non-face-to-face worship services' have been allowed in churches in the province since the 19th of last month, and all in-person meetings and events organized by churches have been banned.

Even during non-face-to-face worship services, only essential personnel within 20 people for video production may participate, and quarantine rules such as wearing masks, prohibiting meal provision, maintaining distancing, and prohibiting group hymns (only solo singing allowed) must be followed.

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