Daejeon Police Agency Conducts Search and Seizure at IM Mission Headquarters... Investigating Violations of Quarantine Rules and Facility Operation Laws

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency is conducting a search and seizure at the headquarters of IM Mission located in Jung-gu, Daejeon.

On the 15th, the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency announced that from around 7:30 a.m. that day, officers from the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crime Investigation Unit were sent to IM Mission to carry out the search and seizure.

The police are securing computer hard disks and documents from IM Mission, investigating allegations of violations of the Academy Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act related to the academy facilities, as well as examining issues regarding the accreditation of IEM International School under the mission.

Earlier, the Daejeon City Government and the Daejeon Metropolitan Office of Education requested a police investigation into missionary Michael Cho of IM Mission and IEM International School.

Initially, the city and the education office requested the investigation after detecting circumstances where IM Mission held in-person worship services during a period when the quarantine authorities only permitted non-face-to-face worship, violating the worship implementation rules that allowed services at no more than 20% of total seating capacity.

As of today, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to IEM International School is reported to be 417. IM Mission is currently known to operate 23 facilities nationwide, including IEM International School, TCS International School, and Christian after-school programs.

In addition to violations of quarantine rules, the police are also expected to investigate the legality of IEM International School’s operations. The core issue is whether operating a 6-year integrated middle and high school curriculum (school subjects) for youths aged 13 to 19 for more than 30 days was illegal.

Meanwhile, at the scene, investigators wearing protective suits are entering the building and conducting the search and seizure. The search and seizure is being carried out in the presence of officials from the Jung-gu Office of Daejeon and representatives from IM Mission.

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