<Anchor> The

quarantine authorities made an overnight effort to secure a list of recent visitors with the members of Sarangjeil Church in Seoul, but failed as church officials blocked it. In the epidemiological investigation that began yesterday (20th) morning, the church demanded a seizure and search warrant and blocked the entry of investigators.

The first news, reporter Kwan-jin Kim reports.

<Reporter>

At around 4 am today, epidemiological investigators from the quarantine authorities appear empty-handed at Sarangjeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul.

In order to find out the reason and cause of the spread of the infection related to the church, we tried to secure a list of members and data such as recent visitors, but there was no result.

It was yesterday morning when the quarantine authorities first visited for an epidemiological investigation.

Church officials demanded a seizure and search warrant and refused to enter the epidemiological investigator, and Seoul city officials explained that administrative investigations did not require a warrant, and the confrontation continued.

Yesterday evening, at about 8 o'clock, some epidemiological investigators succeeded in getting inside the church, but the church building was locked, and the list of members failed.

Sarangjeil Church has previously submitted a list with the names of 900 people on it twice, but the quarantine authorities believe that the number of members is too small and the content is inaccurate.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the quarantine authorities are planning to attempt an epidemiological investigation again this morning.

Sarangjeil Church said yesterday that the act of forcing members to submit a list of congregants and test for coronavirus by posting a ``popular admission statement'' in some newspaper advertisements constitutes abuse of authority and illegal confinement.

[Jun-wook Kwon/Deputy Head of Central Defense Countermeasure Headquarters: As a quarantine authority, epidemiological investigation as it is without prejudice against any specific group, facility or institution... .] The

quarantine authorities emphasized that the inspection is conducted according to the proper procedure according to the infection prevention method, and cooperation is urgent as the infection from Sarangjeil Church is spreading.