437 Confirmed Cases... Religious Facility Risks Spreading Again

125 Confirmed Cases in Daejeon
"Urgent Inspection of Dormitory-Style Religious Education Facilities"

On the 19th, medical staff are collecting specimens at a temporary screening clinic for COVID-19 set up at Seoul Station Plaza. The Central Disease Control Headquarters of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced that as of midnight on the same day, 386 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed domestically, bringing the total to 73,115. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

As the government tightens COVID-19 prevention measures ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, another cluster infection at a religious facility has emerged as a new variable. On the 24th, 125 confirmed cases were reported in a single day at an unlicensed international boarding school operated by a missionary group in Daejeon. Since infections related to religious facilities have previously accounted for the largest proportion of domestic COVID-19 cluster outbreaks, health authorities are on high alert.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 25th, as of midnight, 437 new COVID-19 cases were recorded domestically. Despite the 'weekend effect' of reduced testing, the sudden surge of 125 confirmed cases in Daejeon pushed the total to the mid-400s. Those who tested positive in Daejeon the previous day were all students and staff of IEM International School located in Jung-gu. Health authorities collected specimens from 146 students and staff who lived in the school's dormitory alongside confirmed cases from Suncheon and Pohang, with over 80% testing positive. This cluster infection caused the daily new confirmed cases in Daejeon, which had been in single digits since the 2nd of this month, to jump to triple digits overnight.

Kwon Deok-cheol, Minister of Health and Welfare, stated, "This is a representative case of rapid spread in a typical 3-dense environment, with up to 20 people living in one room in the dormitory," and urged, "Please urgently inspect the quarantine status of all boarding-type religious education facilities such as religious schools, prayer centers, and training centers to prevent similar cluster infections from recurring."

In particular, health authorities are concerned that IM Mission, which operates IEM International School, might follow in the footsteps of Daegu's Shincheonji last year or the recent Intercob cases. IEM International School, along with TCS International School, is an unlicensed educational facility operated nationwide by IM Mission. In Gwangju, 18 pastors and church members were confirmed positive in a cluster infection related to TCS International School. Additionally, concerns are growing as IM Mission officials have recently held admission briefings nationwide. Since the 24th, in-person worship services at religious facilities have been allowed on a limited basis.

There is also keen interest in how this cluster infection will affect adjustments to current social distancing measures and the ban on private gatherings of five or more people, which are set to be decided this week. Especially amid the recent decline in COVID-19 spread, many self-employed individuals who had hoped for eased restrictions are feeling anxious. Gyeong Gi-seok, president of the Korea Coin Karaoke Practice Room Association, said, "Religious facilities accounted for the largest proportion of the last cluster infections, and I believe the biggest loophole in quarantine was at religious facilities," adding, "We are hoping for at least a one- or two-hour extension of business hours for self-employed people as a form of easing."