Churches in Suwon Cancel Sunday Worship on March 1st Over COVID-19 Concerns

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Seo Dong-young] Amid concerns over the spread of COVID-19, numerous churches in Suwon including Suwon Central Baptist Church and Suwon First Church have decided to cancel Sunday worship on March 1st.

From February 23rd to 28th, public officials including Shim Gyu-suk, director of Suwon City's Culture and Arts Division, visited churches with large congregations and requested that they "cancel services until the COVID-19 situation subsides." As a result, 36 major churches independently voted to "cancel services."

Additionally, numerous other churches have indicated their intention to participate in the "cancellation of Sunday worship." The number of churches canceling services is expected to increase. Some churches have decided to reduce the number of services held.

Suwon First Church (Ji-dong) notified its congregation starting February 23rd to hold "video worship" at home, and also turned away worshippers who visited the church on the 23rd.

On February 21st, the city sent an official notice to all religious facilities within its jurisdiction including the Catholic Diocese of Suwon, all Protestant churches, Buddhist temples, and Won Buddhist temples, stating "confirmed cases are rapidly increasing nationwide and COVID-19 is spreading within the community." The city requested cooperation to "postpone or cancel religious events such as worship services, Buddhist services, and Masses that draw many citizens until the situation stabilizes."

Meanwhile, the Catholic Diocese of Suwon announced on the 23rd the "Suwon Diocese Emergency Countermeasure Committee Three-Stage Pastoral Measures for Preventing COVID-19 Spread." The diocese decided to provisionally halt all parish community Masses, educational programs and events, and various group meetings from February 24th through March 11th. According to these pastoral measures, 33 Catholic churches in the city will suspend all community Masses and gatherings through March 11th.

Buddhist temples in the city including Bongnyeong Temple, Cheongyeon Temple, Suwon Temple, Yonghwa Temple, and Muhak Temple have decided not to hold services with large congregations of worshippers until the COVID-19 situation stabilizes. Won Buddhist Suwon Temple and East Suwon Temple have also decided not to hold services on March 1st.

Suwon Mayor Yum Tae-young expressed, "I sincerely thank the religious organizations that decided to cancel religious events and the citizens who refrained from participation. I urge that you continue to refrain from attending religious events that draw many people until the COVID-19 situation stabilizes."