According to Shincheonji Church and as stated in a previous article, this is an actual account of what happened following confirmation of ‘Patient 31’ on February 18th. That evening, Shincheonji Church provided Daegu Metropolitan Council with a list of all congregation members who had attended the same church service as ‘Patient 31’ in Daegu. At 6am the following morning (19th), the final list was sent to the KCDC. Epidemiological investigations and strong preventive measures were then implemented as the church in Daegu was closed down and all its congregation members instructed to self-quarantine and promptly contact public health facilities for testing. Moreover, all 74 branch churches and 1000 affiliated buildings nationwide were disinfected up until February 21st. Shincheonji Church published a report on the status of disinfection on its website, having provided all the addresses to the KCDC. Shincheonji Church then provided a detailed list of all 212,324 domestic congregation members and 33,582 overseas congregation members to the KCDC on February 25th and February 26th, respectively, which the KCDC then forwarded on to local governments under an agreement of confidentiality.
In response to issues raised by the media concerning data submitted, the Ministry of Justice demanded a formal investigation of Shincheonji Church. According to a report published by the privately-owned Newsis News Agency on 17th March, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office dispatched five forensics to Shincheonji Church and concluded that there was in fact no difference between the list initially submitted by Shincheonji Church and data obtained through government investigations.
Nevertheless, the result of fake news has wreaked utter devastation on the lives of many believers of Shincheonji Church. Congregation members' personal information was leaked to the public, resulting in some 4000 church members receiving severe persecution including forced leave of absence, domestic violence, discrimination and insult. On February 26th 2020, one believer in Ulsan who had been suffering domestic abuse from her husband because of her religious affiliation - which she had previously reported to the police - likely took her own life, with one other congregation member suspected to have also taken their own life. The media has a huge part to play in these tragedies. A petition was even set up in Daegu-Gyeongbuk region (location of 75% of all domestic COVID-19 cases) that has harnessed nearly 1.5milllion signatures and is entitled “I request the shutdown of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, by force”. This petition is due for submission to the Blue House (Presidential executive office and residence) claiming that Shincheonji Church instructed members to impede efforts to contain the virus. This is crazy, fake news that is fanning religious discrimination against Shincheonji Church members who are among the disease's biggest victims.
Thankfully, signs of justice are showing. Democrat Won-wook Lee and nine associates cosponsored a bill that tightens regulations on ‘hateful, speculative and distorted' reporting. Mr. Won-wook Lee said, “In reality, it is very difficult to regulate the media by law. However, I propose this bill to sound a warning against exaggerated and speculative reporting, and to help journalists autonomously set strict rules for reporting.” He added, “With regards COVID-19, rules of conduct have already been established by the Journalists Association of Korea. It is the duty of every journalist to willingly abide by these rules."
Moreover, the Muslim Community Report has reported that the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which is a US Federal Government Commission, has condemned South Korea for desecrating Shincheonji Church over the coronavirus outbreak, expressing deep regret and concern over the situation. The report reads, “We are concerned by reports that Shincheonji church members are being blamed for the spread of the coronavirus and we urge the South Korean government to condemn scapegoating and to respect religious freedom as it responds to the outbreak.” It adds, “The commission’s principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the U.S President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.”
This witch-hunt against Shincheonji Church must stop before more lives are lost. No one wants COVID-19; neither Korean citizens nor Shincheonji Church members who themselves are Korean citizens! Shincheonji Church of Jesus and its chairman feel great responsibility for the spread of this virus within South Korea and continue to do everything possible to comply with local health and government authorities. At the “Press Conference of Shincheonji Church of Jesus Regarding COVID-19” on March 2nd, Chairman Lee confirmed that the reason for the alleged discrepancies between the lists submitted is owing to a different way of data collation as Shincheonji Church categorises its congregation members according to tribe - not address - and he reconfirmed the church’s resolve to cooperate with authorities to bring a swift end to this national crisis. The media must report objectively based solely on factual evidence to prevent further damage.
Related Articles
Prohibition of 'Hateful, Speculative and Distorted' Reporting Proposed under Natural Disasters Act (EDaily 17/03/2020)
Prosecution investigates membership list provided by Shincheonji Church Headquarters: “No hidden members; they reported a true list” (Newsis News Agency 17/03/2020)
▶http://bit.ly/38UD0Kf ▶http://bit.ly/39XvrDY
Coronavirus: USCIRF decries South Korea for blaming Shincheonji Church (10/03/2020)
Lies regarding the Coronavirus about Shincheonji 신천지 (03/03/2020)
Press Conference of Shincheonji Church of Jesus Regarding COVID-19 (02/03/2020)
COVID-19 Response of Shincheonji Church of Jesus
Official Announcements from Shincheonji Church of Jesus
•0307 Chairman Man Hee Lee asks "all congregants to fully cooperate for disease control" in a special announcement
•0302 Statement at Press Conference of Shincheonji Church of Jesus Regarding COVID-19
•0302 Regarding COVID-19 Testing of Chairman Lee, Man-hee of Shincheonji Church of Jesus
•0301 Letter of Appeal to Political Leaders
•0228 Letter of Appeal from Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Regards to COVID-19
•0226 Shincheonji Church of Jesus Provided a List of All Members to Public Health Authorities
•0223 Statement of Shincheonji Church of Jesus Regarding COVID-19
•0222 Over 1000 Shincheonji Church of Jesus Locations Disinfected and Closed Down in Korea
•0221 Shincheonji Church of Jesus Closed Down Its Churches and Affiliated Buildings from 18 Feb
•0220 Statement of Shincheonji Church of Jesus Regarding COVID-19 Countermeasures and Fake News
•0219 Statement of Shincheonji Church of Jesus Regarding the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
•0218 Notice on the Worship Service of Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Regards to COVID-19
COVID-19/Fact Checker: Q&A on Shincheonji Church of Jesus Regarding the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Yes! The result of the false reports have done damage on Shincheonji - I feel sorry for the members who suffered as a result of the false reports.
ReplyDeleteLet's unite and heal ❤
ReplyDeletePeople of Shincheonji in the midst of hard times absolutely overcome well. And The truth about Shincheonji necessarily reveals all over the world. Cheer up.
ReplyDeleteYes! The false reports are so damaging. Praying for healing to come soon.
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone will have a good day soon.
ReplyDeleteThe truth will come out. Cheer up!
I want the coronavirus to dissappear as soon as possible, and I want everyone to regain happiness and hope.
ReplyDeleteI hope that coronavirus will disappear quickly everywhere in the world.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteいろいろと大変な時を過ごしている最近、もっと頑張って欲しい。真実は必ず勝ちます。
ReplyDelete真実はいつか必ず明らかになります
ReplyDeleteBlaming a group for the virus is barbaric.
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone wins the coronavirus and everyone is happy. Let's win together!
ReplyDeleteThe more I read these articles, the more I feel that people seem to be not interested in the truth. Only find provocative things. Truth is not interested in them. Thank you for writing a good article, noah.
ReplyDelete