Confirmed Cases at Gwangju TCS International School Resulting from Communication Breakdown Between Autonomous Districts

Buk-gu Notifies City Education Office Next Day After Guidance Measures, Gwangsan-gu Notified 6 Days Later

Leaks Incorrect Information About Gwangsan-gu Through Media to Shift Responsibility

Gwangsan-gu Denies Receiving Notification on 21st,

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters reporters Lee Gwan-woo and Kim Yuk-bong] The Buk-gu district of Gwangju Metropolitan City is facing public outcry over inadequate initial response to a COVID-19 quarantine violation incident.

Members of Gwangju TCS International School (Unnam-dong, Gwangsan-gu), one of the links in the cluster infection originating from the IM Mission Society that dampened the previously subdued COVID-19 spread, were recently found to have conducted group activities in Buk-gu. Despite this, Buk-gu notified Gwangsan-gu of the related facts belatedly. Meanwhile, more than 100 confirmed cases have occurred centered around this educational facility.

According to Buk-gu and Gwangsan-gu on the 28th, Buk-gu received a suspicious report around 9 p.m. on the 20th that a large number of people were conducting religious activities accompanied by hymn singing in a building in Sinan-dong, and proceeded to inspect the site.

At that time, about 60 people related to the international school were gathered on the 1st and 2nd floors of the building, and signs of religious classes and meals were found in various places.

Buk-gu dispersed them and sent them back to the dormitory in Gwangsan-gu. Buk-gu explained that the building was sparsely populated and mostly vacant, making it a suitable place to avoid surveillance. The international school officials also showed meticulous behavior, such as covering windows with blinds.

Buk-gu notified the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education in writing the next day, the 21st, about this guidance measure but did not contact Gwangsan-gu, where the international school is located. Gwangsan-gu only became aware of the international school's group activities on the 25th. Infections originating from the international school began on the 26th, and so far, 117 people have been confirmed positive.

Regarding the delayed notification, a Buk-gu official explained, "We do not want to assign blame. It was not a mistake, and we did not expect the spread from the international school to become this large."

This reveals Buk-gu’s complacent response.

Moreover, Buk-gu concealed the delayed notification from some media outlets and spread ‘incorrect information’ claiming that Gwangsan-gu was informed on the 21st, which caused embarrassment for Gwangsan-gu.

In response, Gwangsan-gu issued a statement on the 27th officially clarifying that it did not receive any notification from Buk-gu regarding Gwangju TCS International School on the 21st.

A Gwangsan-gu official said, "The Buk-gu official posted the matter in the Gwangju autonomous district quarantine officials’ KakaoTalk group chat on the morning of the 25th. By that time, Gwangsan-gu was already conducting comprehensive testing of all Gwangju TCS International School personnel," adding, "The damage caused to Gwangsan-gu by the misinformation is enormous. We earnestly appeal to correct the facts."

Regarding this, an official from one autonomous district commented, "A moment of negligence ultimately caused a huge disaster with 100 cases per day, making all citizens tremble in fear," and added, "Although the reason is unknown, Buk-gu’s response is regrettable. It is true that quarantine officials are fatigued due to the widespread COVID-19, but immediate communication between autonomous districts is essential to maintain vigilance until the very end."

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