Controversial church at center of S Korean outbreak

A church whose leer claims he is an angel of Jesus has become biggest cluster of viral infections in South Korea, where a surge in new cases raises fears that outbreak is getting out of control.

A total of 110 cases of new virus, including country’s first death, have been found in souast city of Daegju and nearby areas since Wednesday. Of those, about 70% have been linked to a Daegu branch of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, where two recent services were attended by a previously confirmed patient. South Korea has a total of 156 cases of virus, which causes COVID-19 disease.

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Little is kwn about “patient zero" except that woman in her early 60s h recent record of overseas travel and was diagsed with pneumonia last weekend. She h initially resisted doctors’ recommendations to get tested for virus, according to Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some 1,000 Shincheonji church followers who attended Sunday services with her have been quarantined at ir homes while authorities screen m for virus. Health authorities are also trying to monitor thousands of ors.

Shincheonji church blamed woman for spre of disease, saying it has been vising followers since late January to stay home if y h traveled overseas or were experiencing even mild cold-like symptoms. Church officials said woman assumed she was having common cold. Shincheonji, which claims 200,000 followers in South Korea, said it closed all of its 74 churches around nation and told members to inste watch its services on YouTube.

Shincheonji, which translates as “new heaven and new earth,” was established in 1984 by Lee Man-hee, who has been accused by or Christian groups as a false prophet or a cult leer. church describes Lee as “ Promised Pastor,” an attendant of Jesus sent to testify what he claims are fulfilled prophecies from Book of Revelation.

“Shincheonji followers believe Lee Man-hee is immortal and has an eternal life,” said Ji-il Tark at Busan Presbyterian University in South Korea. “To propagate ir belief, y often approach ir relatives and acquaintances or sneak to or churches without telling m y are Shincheonji members.”

Tark said Shincheonji followers are likely more vulnerable to virus infections as y often sit very closely on floor during services. At Shincheonji, attending church-related garings “isn’t an option, but a requirement,” he said. church said in a statement it was fully cooperating with government quarantine efforts and accused mainstream church groups of spreing false claims, such as that it initially instructed followers to keep silent about illness.

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