100 COVID-19 Cases Confirmed at Gwangju TCS International School... Largest Cluster Infection to Date

Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop Holds Emergency Press Conference to Explain Situation

26 Negative Cases Out of 135, Remaining 9 Undergoing Testing

Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop is holding an emergency press conference regarding COVID-19 on the afternoon of the 26th at the briefing room on the 5th floor of the city hall. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] At the unlicensed educational facility Gwangju TCS International School located in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, 100 people tested positive for COVID-19, prompting health authorities to declare an emergency.

This marks the first time daily triple-digit cases have been reported in the Gwangju area and represents the largest-scale cluster infection.

On the 26th at 9:20 p.m., Lee Yong-seop, mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, held an emergency press conference on COVID-19 response, stating, “At Gwangju TCS International School (operated by Hanmaeum Church), the largest cluster infection since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Gwangju has occurred. Among 135 students, faculty, and church members tested, 100 have tested positive, 26 negative, and the remaining 9 are still undergoing testing.”

Gwangju TCS International School is an unlicensed educational facility operated by the IM Mission organization to train missionaries, where 122 students and staff from across the country have been living and studying together. Among them, 66 are from other regions.

Earlier, on the 23rd, after the first confirmed case was reported at Ace TCS International School (operated by Bitnaeri Church), epidemiological investigations focused on visitors to related churches and educational facilities, identifying 37 confirmed cases as of that day.

During the epidemiological investigation, Gwangju city confirmed that IM Mission operates branches nationwide and shared the situation in Gwangju with the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 24th, requesting preemptive measures from the government and local governments. On the same day, a cluster infection of 125 cases occurred at Daejeon IEM International School.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop explained, “The cluster infection at Gwangju TCS International School confirmed today was also identified during the comprehensive testing of IM Mission-related educational facilities in Gwangju. On the 25th, specimens were collected from 135 students, faculty, and some church members, and since the final results have been confirmed, the facility has been isolated from the outside.”

He added, “Considering that most of the students confirmed positive at Gwangju TCS International School today are minors aged 6 to teenagers, and that more than half of the students reside outside the region, we plan to transfer the confirmed cases to residential treatment centers near their actual residences as much as possible. Among the 135 tested today, the 26 who tested negative and the 9 still undergoing testing will be separately isolated.”

He further urged, “Those who visited Ace TCS International School and Bitnaeri Church, Gwangju TCS International School and Hanmaeum Church, Takun TCS International School and Gwangmyeong Seohyeon Church, and Antioch Trinity CAS and Antioch Church in January should immediately get tested at the temporary screening clinic at Gwangju City Hall or at screening clinics in the five autonomous districts’ public health centers. Students, faculty, and parents of religious educational facilities are also urged to get tested promptly regardless of contact with confirmed cases or symptoms.”