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| On the afternoon of the 29th of last month, a notice of facility closure due to a novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) was posted at Antioch Church in Ssangchon-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju. 2021.1.29/News1 © News1 Reporter Lee Soo-min |
In contrast to the fact that some churches that became the epicenter of the group infection announced their position and apologized, the Gwangju Antioch Church, where 107 confirmed cases, remained silent without apology.
According to the city of Gwangju on the 1st, the number of confirmed coronavirus infections (Corona 19) related to the Antioch Church in Ssangchon-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju as of 2 pm on the same day exceeded 107.
Since the first confirmed cases, they are believed to have conducted face-to-face worship with about 400 people, so the number of related confirmed cases is increasing day after day after conducting a thorough examination for members.
Gwangju Seonglim Baptist Church (118 people from the city assembly), where infection spread after an inner city meeting-related worship service, and 30 confirmed cases, apologized on August 28 last year, saying, “I admit the church’s poor management.”
At the time, Sunglim Baptist Church revealed that many of the 33 choir members sang hymns without wearing masks and ate together with other members of the church to develop group infections.
In December of last year, Gwangju Cheongsa Church, which had 75 confirmed cases due to non-wearing masks and group meals, also issued a statement and apologized for violating the quarantine regulations.
However, the Gwangju Antioch Church, the largest church-initiated group infection in the past, remains silent.
Antioch Church’s side filed an administrative lawsuit against the city of Gwangju last November to cancel an administrative order banning worship services, and is known to be on the verge of trial.
From August 27 to September 10 last year, Gwangju City issued an administrative order prohibiting grouping against religious institutions to prevent group infection.
However, on August 28th and 30th, the Antioch Church held two face-to-face worship services, and was accused of violating the law on the prevention and management of infectious diseases by Gwangju City, and was briefly charged with a fine of 3 million won.
The Antioch Church did not approve of the city’s actions and went to lawsuit. It is argued that’an executive order that allows only non-face-to-face worship violates religious freedom’.
It is known that the pastor of Antioch Church strongly opposed the crackdown and fought with the police, saying that it was “religious oppression” when the city, district, and police began cracking down on the scene last August.
Gwangju City, which judged that the spread of infection from Antioch Church was serious, issued an administrative order banning face-to-face worship for 12 days from January 30 to February 10 targeting all churches in Gwangju on the 29th for the first time in the country.
The Korean Christian Church Association (NCCK), the Korea YMCA National Federation, and the Korea YWCA Federation have apologized for the fact that the church has become the epicenter of the COVID-19 collective infection on behalf of the religious world, but the Antioch Church, which is the party, is not presenting any position.
Mokpo Kim (60), who lives in Mokpo, said, “I am very worried because there are many confirmed cases from church while my children are in Gwangju.” “How many people who go to church are going around here and there. I’m worried that I’ll be swearing the same way.”
Nam-mo, 30, who works in Seo-gu, Gwangju, said, “I think that the general president Shincheonji Lee Man-hee is acquitted and the churches are going to be more violent.” And burst into anger.
An official from a church in Gwangju said, “After the outbreak of group infection, it would be better if the church should respond more maturely and apologize. However, it is bitter that the image of the church is worsening because there is no word of apology.”
Meanwhile, in Gwangju, the Haejeong Welfare Center in Suwan-dong, Gwangsan-gu, and the Administrative Welfare Center in Geumho 2-dong, Seo-gu, visited by confirmed patients from Antioch Church, were temporarily closed.