Coronavirus cluster emerges at another South Korean church, as others press ahead with Sunday services

The controversial Manmin Central Church in Seoul, whose pastor Lee Jae-rok is in prison for rape, has been linked to 22 Covid-19 cases

This comes as many South Korean churches went ahead with services on Sunday, despite pleas for social distancing

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Workers spray disinfectant to help curb the spread of the coronavirus at a church in South Korea. A new cluster of infections has emerged at a church in Seoul’s western district of Guro. Photo: AP

Published: 12:00pm, 30 Mar 2020Updated: 11:15pm, 30 Mar 2020

Another controversial religious sect in South Korea has come under public scrutiny with a cluster of at least 22 coronavirus cases, as some protestant churches went ahead with worship services on Sunday despite a government order for social distancing.

Health authorities have been tracing close contacts of at least 200 church-goers after a member of the Manmin Central Church in Seoul’s western district of Guro tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday.

As of Sunday afternoon, 22 people linked to the church, including a female pastor, had tested positive.

Infections occurred when about 200 members of the church gathered in early March to prepare video footage to use in online worship services in response to government guidelines for social distancing, according to the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pastors wearing face masks and sitting far apart attend a service at a church in Seoul. Photo: AP

Some 70 other members of the church also on March 5 travelled to the southern county of Muan, the birthplace of the church’s founder Lee Jae-rok, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his most famous “miracle” – allegedly making the salty water in a fountain drinkable to ease chronic potable water shortages in the county.

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