"Allow In-Person Worship" Group Lawsuit Filed by Protestant Pastors in Daejeon Area

Last month, a facility official was posting a no-entry notice at the main gate of a church in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province. This church was closed after 39 people tested positive for COVID-19 following a visit by members of the MTS Youth School operated by the Daejeon IM Mission. The photo is unrelated to the article. Source=Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Protestant church pastors in the Daejeon area have filed a lawsuit seeking permission for in-person worship services. The main point is to cancel the administrative order banning in-person worship services, which was issued to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

According to the legal community on the 11th, recently 29 Protestant church pastors in the Daejeon area filed a lawsuit at the Daejeon District Court against Mayor Heo Tae-jeong of Daejeon, requesting the cancellation of the 'ban on in-person worship services' order.

The pastors who filed the lawsuit are reportedly arguing that "the ban on in-person worship services at religious facilities, as part of sector-specific administrative measures following the extension of social distancing level 2, should be canceled."

They argue that since churches can hold in-person worship services while wearing masks, regulating church in-person worship services the same as five types of entertainment facilities such as hunting bars violates the principles of equality and proportionality.

In particular, these pastors emphasized that the restriction on in-person worship services "constitutes an abuse and deviation of discretionary power infringing on the constitutional freedom of religion," and that "since it is an illegal and unconstitutional order, the ban on in-person worship services must be canceled."

Meanwhile, the lawsuit to cancel the administrative order banning in-person worship services filed by local pastors will be heard by the Administrative Division 2 of the Daejeon District Court, and no trial date has been set yet.