[Coronavirus] Big gospel church eases public jitters by suspending services

By Lim Chang-won Posted : February 28, 2020, 13:14 Updated : February 28, 2020, 13:43

[Yonhap Photo]

SEOUL -- Bowing to government and public pressure, Yoido Full Gospel Church, which is South Korea's largest Pentecostal Christian congregation with a membership of 560,000, agreed to suspend indoor services, as the number of patients infected with a new coronavirus surged to more than 2,000.

Yoido Full Gospel Church affiliated with the Assemblies of God said on Friday that all services would be held online. The church's main building in Seoul is capable of seating 12,000 people and congregants can watch events in the main church on telescreens at nearby buildings.

SaRang Community Church, another mega Presbyterian church in southern Seoul, followed suit to hold online services. The church with a membership of more than 60,000 is well known for its huge underground chapel.

The Roman Catholic Church with 5.8 million followers in South Korea has suspended masses at all 16 dioceses. Buddhist temples have closed services at temples. Many Protestant churches have followed government recommendations to suspend services, but some mega-churches are still reluctant to follow suit, sparking a public eyesore.

In an urgent appeal on Friday, Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Park Yang-woo urged religious groups to actively cooperate with a government battle to contain the spread of the epidemic by restricting religious rallies. "Now is the time when all religious circles need careful judgment and cooperation for the safety of all the people."

State prosecutors hinted at an investigation into the leadership of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which has been blamed for causing a spike in the number of patients since a 61-year-old follower was guaranteed on February 17 after attending services at the church's branch in the southeastern city of Daegu. More than 50 percent of confirmed cases in recent days were, directly and indirectly, related to Shincheonji.

The investigation is based on complaints from a civic group, which has accused Shincheonji leader Lee Man-hee, 89, of obstructing the government's epidemiological survey by refusing to disclose a list of important figures to protect his organization.

Health officials said on Friday that they finally have acquired a revised list of 245,000 Shincheonji followers and their contact information for swift virus tests across the country, along with a separate list of more than 70,000 "trainees" who have been recruited for indoctrination. The list included 16,680 minors. Cult busters insisted the religious group has run camouflage churches and other facilities with different signboards.

 
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