Rumors of 'Shincheonji Directive' Spread... Shincheonji States "Not True"

On the afternoon of the 21st, when Park Won-soon, the Mayor of Seoul, announced the closure of Shincheonji Church in Seoul to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), a disinfection company employee was disinfecting at the Shincheonji Jesus Church Seodaemun Zion Church in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Juhyung Lim] Amid the spread among some netizens of the so-called 'Shincheonji directive,' which claims that Shincheonji posted a message telling followers to 'go to established churches and attend Sunday worship,' Shincheonji has issued an official statement denying the claim, saying it is "not true."

On the 22nd, Shincheonji stated on its official website, "The content currently circulating on the internet is not true," adding, "'Shincheonji directive' is fake news."

Previously, posts claiming that Shincheonji had issued new directives to its followers spread on some online communities. These posts alleged that Shincheonji instructed followers to attend regular churches to spread COVID-19 and make it appear as if the current COVID-19 outbreak was not solely a Shincheonji issue.

As these rumors spread, some churches reportedly took measures such as live-streaming Sunday worship services via YouTube channels to prevent infections among their congregants.

Meanwhile, Shincheonji has been identified as a source of the COVID-19 outbreak in Daegu. The rapid increase in confirmed cases is attributed to patient number 31, who recently attended worship at the Shincheonji Daegu church.

There are also concerns that the practice of Shincheonji followers sitting closely together on the floor during worship makes them vulnerable to infection.

On the 21st, the entrance of the Shincheonji Church in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, where a new COVID-19 case was confirmed, appears quiet. / Photo by Yonhap News

In this regard, on the 20th, Chae Hong-ho, Deputy Mayor for Policy of Daegu Metropolitan City, stated at a regular COVID-19 response briefing, "As of 3 p.m., a total of 39 confirmed cases have been reported," adding, "The number of confirmed cases linked to Shincheonji has increased to 33."

However, Shincheonji pointed out, "Due to being Shincheonji, we have not even been granted the necessary building permits, so in order to maximize capacity in a limited space, we hold worship services seated closely together. This reality is being reported as a 'unique worship style' and blamed as the main cause of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19)."

They also criticized, "There are cases where individuals from established church denominations, who have led efforts to defame Shincheonji Jesus Church for decades, are interviewed and use provocative headlines such as 'concealing the truth about followers,' 'hidden Shincheonji members exist,' and 'closed off,' thereby distorting the truth."

Shincheonji urged, "Facing the urgent reality of the COVID-19 outbreak, Shincheonji Jesus Church is taking all possible measures. We ask that actions distorting and defaming Shincheonji Jesus Church on behalf of the established church community, regardless of the essence of the incident, be stopped."