[Report] Operation of Screening Clinic in Front of Myeongseong Church... Local Residents Concerned About Spread

Increased Anxiety Due to Associate Pastor's Positive COVID-19 Diagnosis
Blocking Notices Posted at Various Entrances

On the 26th, as the possibility of community spread of COVID-19 increases, a screening clinic is operating in front of Myeongseong Church in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, where access is being controlled. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-gi] On the morning of the 26th, installation work for a COVID-19 screening clinic was in full swing in an open space inside Myeongseong Church in Myeongil-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul. After the church’s associate pastor was confirmed positive for COVID-19 the day before, the nearby residents’ anxiety grew, prompting the urgent setup of the screening clinic. Numerous papers stating "No entry due to COVID-19" were posted all over the church’s entrance doors. Kim Seok-young, the administrative office manager of Myeongseong Church, said, "There are about 1,500 to 2,000 worshippers who attended service with the associate pastor, and pastors and believers who had close contact will undergo separate testing."

The screening clinic, which began operating at 10 a.m. that day, was visited immediately by two people who had close contact with the associate pastor. The total number of close contacts is 348. Two doctors from a nearby hospital volunteered to assist with the testing.

Myeongseong Church is a large church with over 80,000 registered members. There are about 50 associate pastors alone. Besides doctrinal meetings, associate pastors also take care of events such as birthdays, weddings, and funerals. It is presumed that the associate pastor who tested positive for COVID-19 was infected when visiting the Nonghyup Funeral Hall at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo to attend a church member’s mother’s funeral on the 14th. Kim, the administrative office manager, said, "On the 14th, the 31st confirmed patient in Daegu had not yet been diagnosed, so the associate pastor was completely unaware of the possibility of infection." He added, "Later, upon realizing that their movements overlapped with those of Daegu COVID-19 patients, the associate pastor entered self-quarantine and immediately halted all small group meetings among the congregation."

Myeongseong Church decided to close its facilities and suspend all services temporarily starting from the 25th. However, concerns among residents near Myeongseong Church peaked that day. It was reported that the associate pastor conducted pastoral activities closely interacting with many church members in the church sanctuary, office, and members’ homes for about a week from the presumed infection date on the 14th, including holding Sunday worship on the 23rd, even after showing suspected symptoms.

In particular, the H Apartment complex, consisting of about 300 households located directly opposite Myeongseong Church, is known to have many church members living there, which heightened residents’ anxiety. Kim (female, 60), a church member, said, "Many people moved into this apartment to attend Myeongseong Church," adding, "We are avoiding elevators and using the stairs." A woman in her 70s living in a nearby apartment said, "Even if the church’s disinfection is complete, because the church is so large, the surrounding apartment complexes also need disinfection," and added, "I will request the health center to carry out disinfection." Many shops around Myeongseong Church remained closed even after the morning rush hour. Some stores displayed notices stating, "Closed temporarily due to severe COVID-19 situation."