510 Confirmed Cases Related to Gwanghwamun Rally... 256 Cases Outside the Capital Region

On the 14th, as the situation of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is worsening mainly in the metropolitan area, a notice banning assemblies was installed at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Large-scale rallies are expected to be forcibly held in downtown Seoul on August 15, Liberation Day, prompting the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the police to be on high alert. Photo by Mo Nam Moon munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] The number of confirmed cases related to the gatherings held on the 15th of last month in areas such as Gwanghwamun, Seoul, has surpassed 500.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced on the 5th at 12 noon that the number of confirmed cases related to the Gwanghwamun gathering increased by 37 from the previous day, reaching a total of 510. Among them, 256 cases were from non-metropolitan areas, exceeding the 254 cases from the metropolitan area.

Regarding Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 4 additional cases were identified during contact tracing, increasing the cumulative confirmed cases to 1,156.

Among these, 592 were church members and visitors, 483 were additional transmission cases, and 81 cases are still under investigation. Looking at the age distribution of confirmed cases, those aged 60 and above accounted for 466 cases, representing 40.3% of the total confirmed cases.

Scattered group infections continued nationwide.

As a result of epidemiological investigations, the cluster infection at the 'Dongchunghacho Business Briefing' in Buk-gu, Daegu, was reclassified after confirming its connection with the Gwanghwamun gathering. The number of confirmed cases from the business briefing itself increased by 5, totaling 30 cases.

Gwak Jin, head of the Patient Management Team, explained, "The person who organized the Daegu business briefing visited Seoul before holding the briefing," adding, "Regarding the Dongchunghacho business briefing, it was found that during the visit to Seoul, they came into contact with attendees of the downtown gathering."

In Seoul, after the first confirmed case was reported at Coupang Songpa 2 Camp in Songpa-gu the previous day, 2 more cases were added, bringing the total to 3 positive cases so far. Additionally, related to Jinheung Global, a card issuance company in Dongjak-gu, 3 more cases were confirmed, increasing the cumulative total to 39.

At Paradise Hotel in Jung-gu, Incheon, after the first confirmed case on the 31st of last month, 7 additional cases were identified during contact tracing, bringing the total number of positive cases to 8.

Regarding the kimchi factory in Cheongyang-gun, Chungnam, 1 additional case was confirmed, raising the total to 23. In the infection case at an officetel (real estate auction) in Yeonje-gu, Busan, 6 more cases were added, totaling 18 confirmed cases so far.

The proportion of 'unclear patients' whose infection timing and route have not been clearly identified slightly decreased compared to the previous day (23.3%). Among the 4,008 new confirmed cases from the 23rd to this day, 899 cases, or 22.4%, are still under investigation regarding their infection routes.

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