Shincheonji's Lee Man-hee on COVID-19 Crisis: "Devil's Work... We Can Overcome It"

Special Letter from the General Assembly President Released via Shincheonji App
"This Recent Illness Incident Is Understood as the Work of the Devil"

Chairman Lee Man-hee of Shincheonji. Photo by Shincheonji website

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Lee Man-hee, the president of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), where a large-scale outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) occurred, has issued a statement for the first time since the incident. President Lee claimed that the COVID-19 crisis was caused by the devil.

In a notice titled "Special Letter from the President" posted on the Shincheonji-related app on the previous day (20th), he emphasized, "I believe this epidemic incident was caused by the devil who saw the rapid growth of Shincheonji and tried to stop it."

President Lee said, "Let us overcome all these trials and deceptions," adding, "Let us strengthen our faith even more. We can win. God and Jesus are alive and working."

The president (leader) of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), Lee Man-hee, who is a major source of the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) among believers, has issued a statement for the first time since the incident.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He also stated, "Our unchanging faith and truth belong to God, and whether we live or die, they belong to God just like the prophets and apostles," and urged, "We must cooperate with the authorities' instructions. This is our duty."

He further said, "We do not belong to this world. Our true home is heaven," and added, "Let us conduct evangelism and education through communication. For the time being, avoid gatherings."

He continued, "Currently, the victims of this epidemic are Shincheonji believers," and urged, "Let us overcome this trial as well. Let us pray to God ceaselessly for one another."

On the morning of the 21st, the Shincheonji Zion Church in Songha-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju, known to have been visited by a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), is temporarily closed. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that as of 9 a.m. on the 21st, 52 additional COVID-19 patients were confirmed in South Korea. This brings the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country to 156.

Among them, the number of confirmed cases related to the Shincheonji Daegu Church has exceeded 80. Of the 52 new patients, 39 were linked to the Shincheonji Daegu Church.

As of today (21st), the number of confirmed cases related to the Shincheonji Daegu Church stands at 82. The number of confirmed cases related to Cheongdo Daenam Hospital in Gyeongbuk, including five medical staff such as nurses, is 16.

Since investigations into the members of the Shincheonji Daegu Church are ongoing, the number of additional confirmed cases is expected to increase.

According to the results of an investigation conducted by Daegu City on about 3,400 additional Shincheonji members in the first round, 409 people reported having symptoms, and about 340 members could not be contacted.