Yongin Mayor Baek Gyun-gi: "Strong Measures Including Damages Claim Against Suji Sansong Church for Quarantine Violations"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Yongin Mayor Baek Gyun-gi announced on the 4th through an emergency Facebook live broadcast at 9 p.m. that "strong measures, including filing for damages, will be taken against Suji Sansong Church for violating quarantine guidelines."

This comes as a total of 113 confirmed cases have been reported from Suji Sansong Church, including 96 cases within the city and 17 cases outside the city as of that day.

Following the confirmed cases, the city conducted full diagnostic tests on 182 people, including 141 church members and 41 students and staff of the church-affiliated international school. Though not included in the list, the city sent emergency disaster safety text messages on the 3rd to enable citizens who visited the church to receive diagnostic tests promptly.

Additionally, the city obtained a list of 778 church members and is separately notifying 625 people—excluding confirmed cases and those already tested—to receive diagnostic tests.

Regarding this, Mayor Baek urged, "To prevent possible large-scale outbreaks, residents of Jukjeon 1 and 2 districts are requested to visit the Suji Health Suboffice temporary screening clinic and testing center, and the Suji Arpia temporary screening center to receive diagnostic tests."

Furthermore, the city confirmed through epidemiological investigation that the church violated the ban on in-person gatherings and events organized by religious facilities by holding an event on December 23 at approximately 7 p.m. with attendees not wearing masks. The city plans to impose administrative fines and bring charges in accordance with the 'Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act.'

Additionally, the city will conduct inspections of all religious facilities in the city regarding visitor list documentation and mask wearing compliance with quarantine guidelines. If violations are confirmed, a 'one strike out' rule will be applied, and administrative orders such as immediate gathering bans will be issued if even one quarantine rule violation occurs.

Finally, Mayor Baek emphasized, "We are currently in the process of climbing the 9/10th ridge of the great mountain that is COVID-19, an unprecedented infectious disease," adding that "continuing to walk this ridge without giving up is the path to returning to life before COVID-19."