Shincheonji Patient No. 31's Absurd Claim: "Because of Me, Many Lives Could Have Been Saved"

Shincheonji Daegu Church, Daemyeong-dong, Nam-gu, Daegu. Photo by Asia Economy DB

[Asia Economy Reporter Shinwon Yoon] The 31st confirmed case, identified as a 'super spreader' of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), has sparked controversy by claiming that many lives were saved because of him.

In a phone interview on the JTBC program 'Lee Kyu-yeon's Spotlight' aired on the 27th, the 31st confirmed case said, "Fortunately, whether I am falsely accused or not, many people were able to save their lives because of me."

This is interpreted to mean that many people underwent COVID-19 testing after he was infected.

When asked if he refused the COVID-19 test, he stated, "On the 14th, I had a pneumonia imaging test, and since it was diagnosed as pneumonia, they suggested doing another test, but they did not say to do a COVID-19 test," adding, "They never recommended the test. If they had, I wouldn't have gone to church."

In response, the director of the oriental medicine hospital claimed, "He must have been confident that it was not him. At that time, we recommended the test, but the confirmed case refused."

Authorities stated that the 31st confirmed case repeatedly refused the hospital's test recommendations. On the 19th, Jung Eun-kyung, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said at a regular briefing, "According to the authorities' confirmation, the hospital repeatedly recommended the COVID-19 test to the 31st confirmed case."