Conspiracy Theories Raised and 'Delete the Photos'... Controversy Over 'Secret Mission Event' with 3,000 Attendees

Christian Missionary Group Intercop Held Mission Event on 9-10th
About 3,000 Koreans and Foreigners Attended
Paired in Groups of 20-30, Slept and Ate Lunch Boxes
Conspiracy Theory 'Bill Gates Spread COVID' Emerged During Event

Sangju City Hall, Gyeongbuk / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] In Sangju, Gyeongbuk, a Christian missionary group held a 2-day missionary event, which reportedly attracted about 3,000 believers, raising alarms for health authorities. Attendees were said to have shouted loudly and sung during the event.

According to Sangju City on the 12th, the Christian missionary group 'InterCP Mission' (InterCP) held the missionary event from the 9th to the 10th at the Christian training center 'InterCP Yeolbang Center.'

More than 3,000 domestic and foreign participants attended the event. On the first day, attendees listened to lectures in the main auditorium and small auditorium until 11 p.m., and on the following day, they attended missionary lectures from morning until afternoon. Most gathered in the main auditorium, but some, due to lack of seats, attended lectures via video in the small auditorium.

Additionally, attendees slept in pairs of 20 to 30 people in the training center's accommodations, and meals were mainly provided through packed lunches.

Most wore masks during the event, but some reportedly sang or shouted loudly during lectures.

According to 'Yonhap News,' one attendee mentioned that a missionary propagated conspiracy theories during the lecture, claiming that global billionaires like Bill Gates spread the novel coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the event organizers instructed attendees to turn off their mobile phones and required deletion of any photos taken on site. They collected 240,000 won as a participation fee and plan to hold similar events at the same location in November and December.

Health authorities are investigating the attendees, suspecting that InterCP secretly held the event despite the social distancing Level 2 restrictions banning gatherings of over 50 people at the time.

According to InterCP's official website, the group was founded in August 1983 by a small number of university students dedicated to pioneering missions.

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