The First Domestic Omicron Confirmed Couple Faces Backlash After Lies... "Church Closure, Apologies to Residents"

Senior Pastor Posts Apology on Facebook
"Departed for Academic Seminar, Not Missionary Purpose"

Notice of Temporary Closure of the Church to Which the Pastor Couple, the First Confirmed Domestic Omicron Variant Infection Cases, Belong. / Photo by Facebook Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The large church in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, to which the pastor couple confirmed as the first domestic Omicron variant infection belongs, has stated, "We apologize to the residents of Incheon for causing inconvenience."

The senior pastor A of the church said on his Facebook on the 2nd, "An Omicron confirmed case has emerged in the church."

He further explained about the pastor couple in their 40s who tested positive, "They did not go on a mission to Nigeria, Africa, but attended an academic seminar. They completed all vaccinations and followed quarantine rules well. We hope there are no other misunderstandings."

He added, "Our church will pray to prevent further spread of COVID-19 through this incident and will actively cooperate with the quarantine authorities' measures to ensure no further difficulties arise."

An apology statement posted on Facebook on the 2nd by the church to which the pastor couple, the first confirmed domestic cases of the new COVID-19 variant 'Omicron,' belong. / Photo by Facebook

The church announced the closure of the church along with an apology. The notice stated, "Due to the recent occurrence of COVID-19 cases, the church facilities will be closed for the health and safety of local residents. We ask you to refrain from visiting the church, and all services will be held online. We will do our best in quarantine."

Previously, pastor B of the church's Russian worship department attended a Christian-related academic seminar held in Nigeria with his wife and was confirmed positive for COVID-19 after entering through Incheon Airport on the 24th of last month. Subsequently, their teenage son was also infected with the same variant.

During the initial epidemiological investigation, the pastor couple stated, "We took a quarantine taxi from the airport to home," but it was confirmed that a 30-year-old Uzbek man C, whom they knew, drove them.

C was also confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the 29th of last month. Due to the pastor couple's false statement, C was not classified as a close contact and was found to have freely visited restaurants, markets, hospitals, and other places for six days before the diagnosis.

In particular, it was reported that C's family attended a foreigner-targeted program held at the church the day before the confirmation, raising alarms in the local community. At the event, 411 foreigners of Central Asian nationality attended, and 400 Korean believers attended the worship service immediately before.

Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed Omicron cases in Korea so far is six: the pastor couple, one child of the pastor couple, two women in their 50s who traveled to Nigeria on a different flight than the pastor couple, and C.