Gyeonggi Province Files First Charges Against 20 Individuals Refusing Testing at Sarang Jeil Church and Gwanghwamun Rally
[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province filed its first complaint on the 3rd against 20 people who refused COVID-19 diagnostic tests among attendees of the Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul and the Gwanghwamun rally.
This action came four days after Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung announced a plan for legal action against attendees of the Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul and the Gwanghwamun rally who had not undergone COVID-19 diagnostic testing by the 30th of last month.
The province announced that it filed a complaint with the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency on the afternoon of the same day against 20 selected individuals who refused diagnostic testing, on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.
These 20 individuals are residents of Gyeonggi Province who visited Sarang Jeil Church after the 7th of last month for worship, small gatherings, or other reasons but refused to undergo COVID-19 diagnostic testing.
Earlier, the province received a list of Sarang Jeil Church members residing in Gyeonggi from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and proceeded to notify them via text messages and phone calls. It was confirmed that these 20 individuals received notifications for diagnostic testing through text messages and phone calls.
In addition to these 20, the province plans to continue filing complaints against others who were notified via text or phone calls but refused testing, as soon as supporting evidence is secured.
The province is also pursuing complaints against residents who attended or simply visited the Gyeongbokgung area on the 8th and the Gwanghwamun area on the 15th of last month and who were ordered to undergo diagnostic testing but did not comply.
Furthermore, the province is reviewing candidates for claims to recover quarantine costs. Once decisions are made, civil lawsuits to claim quarantine costs will be pursued alongside the complaints.
A provincial official explained, "The primary goal of this criminal complaint is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through prompt diagnostic testing. Even if a complaint has been filed, if it is confirmed that the person has undergone testing, the complaint will be withdrawn."
Meanwhile, on the 31st of last month, the province formed a 'Diagnostic Testing Legal Support Team' co-led by lawyer Kim Min-su and Ryu In-kwon, Director of Policy Planning at Gyeonggi Province. The team includes the Legal Affairs Officer, Head of Infectious Disease Management Division, Head of Cultural Affairs Division, Head of Health Policy Division, Chief of the Fair Special Judicial Police Unit, Investigation Team 2 Leader of the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency, and lawyers affiliated with the province.
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For inquiries regarding the activities of the province’s Diagnostic Testing Legal Support Team, please contact the Legal Support Team at 031-8008-2154 or 031-8008-2156.
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