Gyeonggi-do Files Second Complaint Against 'Sarangjeil Church and Gwanghwamun Rally Participants' Refusing COVID-19 Testing

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province has filed a second complaint against 14 members of Sarang Jeil Church and attendees of the Gwanghwamun rally who refused to undergo COVID-19 diagnostic testing.

On the 22nd, Gyeonggi Province announced that it reported seven individuals who refused diagnostic testing to the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act.

Earlier, on the 21st, the province had submitted complaints against seven others to the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency on the same charges.

These individuals include 12 Gyeonggi residents who refused diagnostic testing after attending worship services, small meetings, or other related gatherings or events at Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul since the 7th of last month, and two others who refused testing after attending or simply visiting the rallies around Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwanghwamun in Seoul on the 8th and 15th of last month.

On the 3rd, the province had conducted a first criminal complaint against 20 residents of Gyeonggi who attended Sarang Jeil Church rallies and refused COVID-19 diagnostic testing.

In addition to the first and second complaints, the province plans to file further complaints against those who have not undergone diagnostic testing.

A provincial official explained, "The primary goal of this complaint is to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through diagnostic testing. All diagnostic tests for those subject to administrative orders are free of charge, and even if a complaint has been filed, if it is confirmed that the person has undergone testing, the complaint will be withdrawn."