[Coronavirus] Seoul mayor voices blatant disgust and doubt over Shincheonji

By Lim Chang-won Posted : February 25, 2020, 16:55 Updated : February 25, 2020, 16:55

Local government officials shut down a facility run by Shincheonji Church of Jesus in the southeastern city of Ulsan. [Yonhap News Photo ]


SEOUL -- Bowing to government pressure, Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a religious organization blamed for causing a sudden spike in the number of patients infected with a highly contagious new coronavirus in South Korea, promised to present an entire list of believers for potential virus checks.

Shincheonji has been the target of public fury since a 61-year-old follower was guaranteed on February 17 after attending services at its branch in the southeastern city of Daegu. Some 60 percent of confirmed cases in recent days were, directly and indirectly, related to Shincheonji.

At talks with religious leaders on Tuesday, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon voiced blatant disgust and disbelief, branding Shincheonji as "a den of confirmed patients." "The demand for the closure of Shincheonji facilities and a list of believers is not the suppression of religious activity. I hope you will understand that this is a necessary step."

Using a strategy of intimidation and persuasion, government officials have exacted Shincheonji's cooperation and pledge to present its entire congregation list and contact information such as resident registration numbers and addresses.

"We drew positive cooperation from Shincheonji after emphasizing our will to seek legal means in the absence of voluntary cooperation," the government's central headquarters for disaster control said in a statement on Tuesday. Based on the list of Shincheonji members, health officials will swiftly conduct virus tests across the country.

Park expressed doubt over whether the religious group would present a correct list. There was no official data, but the number of Shincheonji followers was estimated at more than 200,000, except for those recruited newly for indoctrination.

Rev. Lee Hong Jung, secretary-general of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), sided with the Seoul mayor. "There should be legal grounds to sanction such a religion that does not respect neighboring sects with its secretive nature."
기사 이미지 확대 보기
닫기