After the Seoul City government filed a legal complaint to prosecutors against 12 leaders of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus accusing them of homicide, causing harm and violating the infectious Diseases and Control Act, the leader of the sect, Lee Man-hee got on his knees, bowed and apologised to the nation for the spread of the disease at an international news conference.
Every member of the 230,000 strong Church were examined and tested and about 9000 were said to test positive to covid-19 virus.
About 60% of of the country 10,780 cases were members of the Shincheonji Church at Daegu. Most of the members of the sect are in their 20s and 30s.
A 61-year-old female member of the Church who tested positive for the virus was among the first to be infected. She initially refused to be taken to hospital claiming that Lee Man-hee who claims Messiah status will heal her. Meanwhile she had attended several church gatherings before testing positive.
South Korea confirmed 10,780 cases, and 9,123 recovered with 250 deaths as at April 2020. Daegu, where most members of Shincheonji Church was based confirmed 6,867 cases. 5,974 recovered and 174 died.
South Korea has since emerged one of the most successful countries in the fight against Covid -19. The country of 50 million people appears to have greatly slowed down its epidemic reporting only 74 cases today down from over 900 at its peak in February 2020.
Behind its success so far has been the most expansive testing programs in the world combined with extensive effort to trace contacts and isolate or quarantine them.
Another important factor is the total cooperation of the citizens and the humbleness of leaders in all sectors from the government to business and religion; publicly encouraging workers and members to coooperate with the authorities.
A good example was demonstrated by Lee Man-hee when he apologised on the national televisions for not cooperating early.
All Roman Catholic churches, major protestant churches and groups, cancelled seminars, mass weddings and Sunday services and all Buddhist events were called off voluntarily.
