Yoo Si-min: "Shincheonji Has No Right to Talk About Religious Freedom... Apologize"

"I Man-hee's Statement, Making People Angry"

Yoo Si-min, Chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Yoo Si-min, chairman of the People’s Life Society and the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, criticized Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), which had a major impact on the domestic spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), on the 25th, saying it "has no right to talk about religious freedom."

On the same day, Chairman Yoo said on his YouTube broadcast 'Yoo Si-min's Alileo Live' that Shincheonji members "have already put many citizens living together at risk through their actions."

Earlier, Shincheonji claimed in an official statement on the 23rd that "the Shincheonji Church is the biggest victim of COVID-19."

Chairman Yoo said, "Shincheonji is indeed a victim of (COVID-19), but they engaged in dangerous behavior that increased the likelihood of becoming victims themselves," adding, "Their actions seriously threatened others' health and caused enormous damage to the nation. (Shincheonji) must start by apologizing," strongly criticizing them.

He continued, "Looking at the statement in the name of Chairman Lee Man-hee or what the spokesperson said, it seems like they came out to anger people," emphasizing, "No matter how much loss they suffer, they must provide the latest member information to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency."

He also pointed out, "The person who will save the confirmed patients is not Lee Man-hee," adding, "Only hospital medical staff can save them."

Chairman Yoo also criticized Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin and Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo, saying, "Daegu and Gyeongbuk have neither closed Shincheonji facilities nor mobilized administrative power to secure the list of believers," and added, "What kind of public officials are they, begging Shincheonji for cooperation with tearful expressions just before crying?"

He added, "Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun's residence in Daegu and Gyeongbuk is because he judged that there is no countermeasure if left to the Daegu mayor and Gyeongbuk governor."