"I Man-hee Enters Forced-Closure Shincheonji Facility Without Permission" Controversy

Gyeonggi Province Plans to File Complaints Against 6 Including Chairman Lee Man-hee on the 8th
Shincheonji Claims "No Connection to Infection as It Was an Open Space"

On the 2nd of last month, Lee Man-hee, the General Assembly Chairman of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, is seen conversing with an official at a press conference held at the Palace of Peace. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy reporters Seung-gon Han and intern Ju-hyung Lim] Lee Man-hee, the president of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (Shincheonji), has sparked controversy after it was confirmed that he entered a forcibly closed facility without permission amid concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 7th that President Lee entered a Shincheonji facility in Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun without permission on Arbor Day, the 5th, and ordered landscaping work.

According to the province, this facility is one of the 35 Shincheonji facilities forcibly closed by an emergency administrative order on February 24. The facility is located about 8 km away from the Shincheonji training center "Palace of Peace," where President Lee previously held a press conference.

The province confirmed President Lee's unauthorized entry into the facility based on a resident's report and plans to file charges against President Lee and six others, including his aides, for violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act. The province plans to submit the complaint to the Gapyeong Police Station in Gyeonggi Province at 2 p.m. on the 8th.

According to an MBC report the previous day, on the 5th, Lee was seen entering an abandoned factory site near the facility with 4 to 5 aides. Lee was wearing a red top and a white jacket, carrying a cane, and walking out with his aides, which led to a confrontation with residents who witnessed the scene.

Residents expressed dissatisfaction and protested, saying, "He entered the abandoned factory site on Arbor Day and pointed here and there with his cane, ordering trees to be planted," "While the entire nation is struggling due to the spread of COVID-19, he is boldly planting trees," and "He should be arrested." Lee then got into a vehicle with his aides and left the scene.

After these facts became known, some netizens criticized Lee for his careless behavior.

One netizen said, "Everyone is on edge, so I don't understand why he acts so carelessly," and added, "Is it so hard to refrain from such actions until the situation calms down?"

Another netizen lamented, "Entering a place under closure orders and wandering around like that," and said, "The whole nation is suffering because of Shincheonji, but does he not fear the law?"

In response, Shincheonji stated, "President Lee Man-hee went to the facility on Arbor Day to plant trees," but explained, "The facility is an open space, so it is not related to infection."