Sarang First Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, which violated the quarantine authorities' order to prohibit face-to-face religious gatherings several times, held another face-to-face worship service today (8th).



This is the fourth time since the implementation of 4 steps of social distancing in the metropolitan area.



Sarang First Church held this worship service in a face-to-face format from 11 am today, and members entered the church from 8:30 am after undergoing body temperature measurement, list writing, and body disinfection.



Sarang First Church also held a face-to-face worship service on the 1st, and received an order to suspend the second operation (August 6-25) and a fine of 3 million won from the ward office.



The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seongbuk-gu were scheduled to check the church's compliance with the order to suspend operations today and confirm the suspicion of violating the Infectious Disease Prevention Act at the site of the face-to-face worship service, but it was blocked by strong deterrence from the church.



About 10 officials from city and ward offices and police tried to enter the church twice this morning.



An official from Seongbuk-gu said, "I came to check whether the second order to suspend operation is complied with, so please cooperate with the execution of official duties." But the lawyers of Sarang First Church blocked the alley leading to the church.




Kang Kang-jae, a lawyer at the church, raised his voice, saying, "If you want to conduct a forced investigation, bring a warrant.



City and ward office officials who failed to enter the church conducted on-site verification for about an hour starting at 1:30 pm at the front and back gates of the church to count the number of face-to-face worship attendees.



According to Seongbuk-gu, it was found that about 280 people participated in the face-to-face worship today.



This is a slight increase from the previous day when the number of about 200 people was counted.




An official from the ward explained, "According to the Infectious Disease Prevention Act, we are taking relevant procedures, such as hearings, for those involved in the closure of Sarang First Church."



Sarang Jeil Church has been conducting face-to-face worship every 4th Sunday since the 18th of last month, when face-to-face worship was banned due to the 4th level of distancing.



(Photo = Yonhap News)