Seoul City Considers 'Facility Closure' for Churches Violating Quarantine Rules During In-Person Services

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will consider closing facilities if churches that violate quarantine rules continue to hold in-person worship services.

On the 21st, Baek Woon-seok, Director of the Seoul Cultural Policy Division, stated in an online briefing regarding measures related to Sarang Jeil Church in Jangwi-dong, Seongbuk-gu, "We are imposing fines and suspending operations on churches that violate quarantine rules," adding, "If violations continue, we will also consider fines, suspension of operations, and facility closures."

Regarding Sarang Jeil Church, he responded that efforts are being made to persuade them to hold non-face-to-face worship services. He said, "The autonomous district is persuading them to conduct non-face-to-face worship," and "We are asking church officials and believers to cooperate with the quarantine rules."

Sarang Jeil Church has been sanctioned multiple times for violating quarantine rules. In April of last year, it was prosecuted for violating Seoul's assembly ban order and is currently undergoing trial. In August, a COVID-19 cluster infection occurred at the church, leading to the closure of the facility.

Nevertheless, despite the prohibition on in-person worship under the Level 4 social distancing measures on the 18th, Sarang Jeil Church forcibly held an in-person worship service attended by about 150 people. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters allows limited in-person worship at religious facilities but restricts in-person worship for those who have previously violated quarantine rules and received administrative sanctions.

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