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[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Seoyoung] A pastor in Daegu who defied the COVID-19 gathering ban order and held an in-person worship service has been sentenced to a fine of 3 million won.
On the 25th, the Daegu District Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Lee Hocheol) announced that it sentenced Pastor A (62) of a church in Daegu to a fine of 3 million won on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act by defying the gathering ban measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19 and holding an in-person worship service.
Pastor A had previously attended the August 15 Gwanghwamun rally last year and was notified by Daegu city not to hold in-person worship services. However, on the 23rd of the same month, he was prosecuted for holding an in-person worship service at the church attended by 38 congregants. It was reported that a confirmed COVID-19 patient also attended the service, causing public controversy.
Regarding Pastor A’s charges, Judge Lee explained, "Violating the gathering ban measures poses a significant threat to our society and local communities, disregarding the ongoing national efforts and sacrifices to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, and this wrongdoing is not minor."
Judge Lee stated the sentencing rationale, saying, "Considering that (Pastor A) continuously denied the crime, along with other circumstances of the offense and post-offense conditions." However, regarding the charge of obstructing epidemiological investigation by falsely reporting the number and list of attendees at the Gwanghwamun rally, the judge acquitted him, stating, "The request for the number and list of attendees does not fall under the epidemiological investigation as defined by the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and its enforcement decree."
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