Daegu City on "Shincheonji 100 Billion KRW Reimbursement Claim": "Criminal Trial Acquittal Is Separate from Civil Lawsuit"

The Shincheonji Daegu Church located in Nam-gu, Daegu.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] On the 3rd, Daegu City issued a statement regarding the Daegu District Court's acquittal of eight executives of the Shincheonji Jesus Church of the Testimony of the Tabernacle of the Testimony Daedaeohji Branch on charges of obstructing epidemiological investigations, stating that it will not affect the civil lawsuit already filed.

Daegu City emphasized in a press release on the same day, "In the case of the civil lawsuit, it is a claim for damages due to obstruction of quarantine caused by the submission of false materials, separate from the criminal responsibility of the Shincheonji Daegu Church executives."

This means that it is different in nature as it exercises the right of recourse against the party responsible for the various costs incurred due to the spread and transmission of infections in the local community.

Earlier, Daegu City had filed a 100 billion won damage claim lawsuit against the Shincheonji Jesus Church and Chairman Lee Man-hee. In this regard, the court had already issued a provisional seizure order on real estate, including the Shincheonji Daegu Church building, and bank deposits.

The Shincheonji Daegu Church side filed an administrative appeal and administrative lawsuit against the closure of the church building and applied for a suspension of execution to suspend the effect of the disposition, but the court dismissed it.

Meanwhile, on the 3rd, the Daegu District Court acquitted all Shincheonji Jesus Church of the Testimony of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji) Daegu Church officials who were tried on charges of obstructing epidemiological investigations related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) (violations of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act and obstruction of official duties by deception, etc.).

This is the second time that Shincheonji officials charged with obstructing epidemiological investigations have been acquitted, following the Suwon District Court's acquittal of Chairman Lee Man-hee.

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