Yeongdeungpo-gu Closes 8 Shincheonji Education Centers

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Chae Hyun-il) has launched a strong, comprehensive response by closing and disinfecting eight Shincheonji education centers in the area to proactively block the spread of COVID-19 infections in the local community.

As of 9 a.m. on the 22nd, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Korea reached 346. In a briefing that day, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that among the 190 new confirmed cases, 84 were related to Shincheonji.

Confirmed cases related to the Shincheonji Daegu Church are currently occurring nationwide, including in Daegu, Busan, Gwangju, and Sejong, and there is a high concern about community spread of COVID-19 related to Shincheonji, as one confirmed case also appeared in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

As a result of investigating Shincheonji’s activities in the Seoul area, it was revealed that an institution using the name ‘Yeongdeungpo Church’ is actually located in Shindaebang-dong, Dongjak-gu, causing some confusion.

On the 22nd, the district immediately took measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 related to Shincheonji by holding a comprehensive COVID-19 response meeting at 9 a.m. to check the progress and promptly begin countermeasures.

After a full survey of Shincheonji-related facilities in the area, the district identified eight education centers under Shincheonji. It was confirmed that no gatherings or worship services were being held at these centers.

Based on Article 47 (Quarantine Measures for Infectious Disease Outbreaks) and Article 49 (Preventive Measures for Infectious Diseases) of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, the district immediately closed the relevant facilities and conducted strong disinfection and sterilization inside and around the closed Shincheonji education centers.

Moreover, the district strengthened the screening system by adding container facilities on the same day, the 22nd, to the screening clinic installed and operated next to the public health center, securing a total of four testing rooms and deploying emergency medical personnel, making every effort to protect the health and safety of residents without distinction between weekdays and weekends.

Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “We have taken proactive measures to alleviate residents’ concerns and prevent infections related to Shincheonji, which is currently the epicenter of COVID-19 infections,” and added, “We will do our utmost to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the area.”