"‘Should Have Been Detained to Raise Awareness’ Controversy Over Rejection of Detention for Confirmed Patient Who Assaulted Health Center Staff"

50s Man Who Hugged Health Center Staff and Disrupted Quarantine Detained, Arrest Warrant Rejected by Court
Couple from Sarang Jeil Church Refuse Health Center Testing
"You Get Tested and Infected Too," Hugged Health Center Staff
Experts Say "Strong Public Authority Needed Against Suspected Infectious Disease Cases"

An incident occurred in Pocheon where a couple, members of Sarang Jeil Church, caused a disturbance to a health center worker who visited for testing. The couple was eventually confirmed positive.
/Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Controversy has arisen after a detention warrant was dismissed for a woman in her 50s who caused a disturbance by hugging and grabbing the arm of a public health center employee who came for a COVID-19 test. Despite the serious nature of violating infection prevention laws, the decision not to detain her has been criticized for lowering public vigilance.

Experts emphasized that strong public authority should be exercised against suspected infectious disease cases who maintain uncooperative attitudes.

On the 16th, the Uijeongbu District Court conducted a pre-trial detention hearing for suspect A on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act and obstruction of official duties, ultimately dismissing the detention warrant.

Judge Kim Jinyoung, head of the warrant division at Uijeongbu District Court, stated the reason for dismissal, saying, "Considering the principle of non-detention investigation under the Criminal Procedure Act, there is insufficient evidence to justify the necessity and grounds for detaining the suspect."

Regarding the charge of obstruction of official duties, Judge Kim explained, "The suspect did not spit at the public health center officials," and "Spitting on the floor of the vehicle in which the suspect was alone does not likely constitute assault under obstruction of official duties."

Additionally, considering the suspect's compliance with summons from investigative authorities and the circumstances of the offense, it was judged unlikely that the suspect would flee.

Earlier, the couple, A and B, were classified as contacts after attending a rally in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on August 15. They attended a service at Sarang Jeil Church on the 9th and later went to the Gwanghwamun rally on Liberation Day. On the 16th, the day after the rally, they also attended a service at a pioneering church in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province.

Despite visiting high-risk areas, they refused to undergo COVID-19 diagnostic testing. They are also accused of obstructing quarantine activities and official duties by health center employees who came to collect specimens in person.

On August 17, two female employees in their 40s from the Pocheon City Health Center visited the restaurant operated by the couple in Ildong-myeon, Pocheon. One of the couple showed symptoms such as coughing, while the other was asymptomatic.

Despite the situation, when the health center employees attempted to collect specimens on-site, A took off her mask and threw it, saying, "You should get infected too. Since I touched you, you need to get tested." A also spat inside the vehicle. B grabbed the arm of the health center employee, obstructing quarantine efforts. Later that day around noon, the couple went to the Pocheon City Health Center in their car to get tested and were confirmed positive the next morning.

The health center employees who were forcibly hugged by the couple fortunately tested negative but reported psychological distress.

Moreover, two customers dining at the restaurant during the disturbance also underwent specimen testing. Although they tested negative, the couple's behavior sparked controversy.

The court dismissed the arrest warrant on the 16th for a woman in her 50s who caused a disturbance by hugging and grabbing the arm of a female employee at the Pocheon City Health Center in Gyeonggi Province.
Photo by Yonhap News

At the time, there were calls for strict punishment against the couple who caused mental and physical harm to the public officials. The couple deliberately made contact with health center employees who came for diagnostic testing, obstructing quarantine activities.

Jung Yeon-oh, director of the Pocheon City Health Center, appeared on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" in August and said about the affected employees, "Their health is good as they tested negative, but psychologically they are not comfortable."

Regarding the couple's assault on health center employees and obstruction of quarantine, Governor Lee Jae-myung instructed in the same month, "Obstruction of quarantine is a clear criminal act that directly threatens the lives of residents and must be dealt with strictly. Issue strict action guidelines to each city and county to prevent recurrence of similar cases like in Pocheon."

As a result, criticism toward the court that dismissed the detention warrant continues among citizens. There are calls that detention was necessary to raise awareness.

A 27-year-old office worker A said, "Isn't this clearly obstruction of official duties and violation of infection prevention laws? They refused testing and caused a disturbance; I think they could have fled anywhere. I am disappointed with the court's decision."

Experts suggested that absolute cooperation is necessary to prevent the spread for the health of citizens.

Professor Lee Jae-gap, an infectious disease specialist at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, said on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" in August, "It is truly disheartening that infectious disease experts have to talk about public authority and coercive power. If this uncooperative state continues, I think strong public authority must be exercised."

Regarding the couple who hugged the health center employee collecting specimens and spat inside their car, he said, "They are really unreasonable people," and emphasized, "(In such cases) they pose a great risk to others' health, so absolute cooperation is necessary to quickly stop the spread."

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