[Coronavirus] Petition wins public support for disintegration of troubled religious group

By Lim Chang-won Posted : February 24, 2020, 13:37 Updated : February 24, 2020, 18:03

[Yonhap Photo]

SEOUL -- Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a religious organization blamed for causing a sudden spike in the number of patients infected with a highly contagious new coronavirus in South Korea, waged a justification fight as public anger turned into calls for disintegration.

Shincheonji has been the target of public fury since a 61-year-old follower was guaranteed on February 17 after attending services at its branch in the southeastern city of Daegu. The number of coronavirus patients has since increased sharply to 833 on Monday, many of them in Daegu and its surrounding North Gyeongsang province. The virus has killed eight people.

As more than 60 percent of confirmed cases in recent days were directly and indirectly related to Shincheonji, the South Korean public weighed in with an outpouring of support for strong steps against the religious group which claims the number of followers is far above 100,000 nationwide.

A public petition posted on the presidential website on February 22 has been supported by more than 551,000 people as of Monday afternoon. If the petition calling for the forced dismantlement of Shincheonji garners more than 200,000 supporters, the presidential office should give an answer.

Pointing to Shincheonji's "unethical doctrines and insincere cooperative attitudes," the petition read, "Indiscriminate and anti-humanitarian acts of propagation and maintaining an abnormal religious system for just one religious leader are no longer normal religious activities."

Shincheonji, which was once caught up in a row over alleged heresy, hit back with claims that it has been unduly victimized by "intentional slander." "We earnestly ask you to refrain from loathing and groundless accusations against Shincheonji saints," the group said in a statement published on Sunday. "We cannot help but worry about intentional slander as there are continuing reports that say Shincheonji is deliberately covering up the situation.''

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, who has spearheaded a campaign against Shincheonji, maintained that authorities should dig into secret places run by the religious group and track all members. "Shincheonji acts stealthily. We have to make sure there are no more secret meeting places," the mayor said in a radio interview. "It's stringent to prevent the spread of (COVID-19) through the proper tracking of followers."

Park closed Shincheonji facilities in Seoul on February 21. An investigation is under way to see if Shincheonji has been involved in religious exchanges with followers in China. According to an address book released on its website, Shincheonji listed 1,026 facilities, saying there are only believers in China, but no churches.

Shincheonji has run 1,329 facilities at home and about 200 abroad, including one in Wuhan, the epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic, according to a YouTube account run by a cult buster. There are 18,440 followers in 19 regions in China, it said, adding that the group has camouflage churches and religious facilities at home.

In South Korea, big Protestant and Catholic churches are suspending indoor services or going online following the discovery of confirmed patients among worshipers. However, Jeon Gwang-hoon, who heads the Christian Council of Korea (CCK), a conservative organization of Christian churches, has defied government guidelines to push ahead with anti-government rallies in central Seoul.

"Any of you have a virus? Come to church services...The Lord will cure them all," the pastor told a rally on a public plaza in Seoul on Sunday. "It doesn't matter if you are not cured. Our destination is heaven," he said, vowing to organize more rallies demanding the resignation of President Moon Jae-in and the release of his jailed predecessor, Park Geun-hye, who was impeached and ousted for her role in a corruption scandal.

"I doubt his sanity," the Seoul mayor said in a radio interview, vowing to mobilize police and stop further rallies by Jeon's group in the center of Seoul.

Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic Church in South Korea has taken a series of steps to prevent secondary infections after 29 followers who made a group pilgrimage to Israel from February 8~16, have tested positive for the coronavirus.

 
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