Seoul City and Seongbuk-gu Issue Diagnostic Testing Order for Over 4,000 at Sarang Jeil Church (Comprehensive)

Only 439 out of over 4,000 tested

43 confirmed cases related to Sarang Jeil Church

On the 14th, citizens are waiting to undergo specimen testing at a temporary COVID-19 screening clinic set up near Dongdaemun Tongil Shopping Center in Seoul, where a new case of COVID-19 was confirmed. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has ordered approximately 4,000 members and visitors of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, where a cluster infection of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred, to undergo diagnostic testing.

Park Yu-mi, Director of the Citizen Health Bureau and Seoul's quarantine controller, stated at a briefing on the morning of the 15th, "We sent safety guidance messages to 4,053 members and visitors of Sarang Jeil Church, and on the 14th, we issued an order to comply with diagnostic testing."

If those who received the compliance order do not undergo diagnostic testing, they may be subject to a fine of up to 2 million won under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. If confirmed cases occur, claims for damages may also be pursued.

The quarantine authorities have received a list of visitors from Sarang Jeil Church for the period from the 7th to the 13th and are classifying diagnostic testing targets by city and province.

These members and visitors are subject to mandatory self-quarantine under the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. However, the city stated that Sarang Jeil Church submitted the list excluding Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon.

At Sarang Jeil Church, after one member was first confirmed positive on the 12th, a total of 43 cases have been confirmed as of the previous day. Among these, 37 confirmed cases are managed by the city.

So far, only 439 members and visitors of the church have undergone COVID-19 diagnostic testing. Thirty-eight tested negative, and the rest are awaiting results.

Among the 54 members whose diagnostic test results have been released, 41, accounting for 75.9%, tested positive.

On the 14th, as the COVID-19 situation worsens mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, a notice banning assemblies was installed at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Large-scale rallies are expected to be forcibly held in downtown Seoul on August 15, Liberation Day, prompting the Seoul city government and police to be on high alert.
Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Meanwhile, Sarang Jeil Church and conservative groups such as the Liberty Solidarity plan to hold a rally near Gyeongbokgung Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul, condemning the government and ruling party on the same day.

The city responded to reports that the pastor of Sarang Jeil Church told members showing suspected COVID-19 symptoms to delay testing by stating, "Delaying testing is a violation of infectious disease regulations, so after reviewing legal measures including whether to file charges, we will take strong action."