Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-su attending a Cabinet meeting at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. News1
, ‘ Kim Moon-su, the Minister of Employment and Labor, who was acquitted in the first trial after being charged with attending a worship service at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul in violation of the gathering ban during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, has been found guilty in the second trial. ‘,
, ‘ The Seoul Northern District Court’s 1st Criminal Division (Presiding Judges Yoon Woong-ki, Lee Heon-sook, Kim Hyung-seok) sentenced Minister Kim to a fine of 2.5 million won for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. Park, the pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, and around 10 church members were also fined between 1 million and 3 million won. ‘,
, ‘ In the first trial held in November 2022, they were all acquitted. ‘,
, ‘ They were accused of conducting or attending church worship services on four occasions from March 29 to April 19, 2020, during the period of gathering restrictions in Seoul. The city of Seoul issued a ban on gatherings at Sarang Jeil Church from March 23 to April 5 of the same year, extending it later until April 19. ‘,
, ‘ Despite receiving a gathering ban order under Article 49 of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act from the city of Seoul for failing to adhere to preventive guidelines such as maintaining distance between worshippers on March 23, 2020, Sarang Jeil Church proceeded with on-site worship services the following weekend on the 29th. In response, Seoul city police filed complaints on three occasions starting from April 3 against Pastor Park Jung-seop, Pastor Jonathan, Lawyer Ko Young-il, and former Governor Kim. ‘,
, ‘ The reason for the first trial’s acquittal in 2022 stated, “Although religious acts or assembly decisions may be restricted for the maintenance of order and public interest, prohibiting on-site worship does not outweigh the public interest that could be achieved when prohibited.” ‘,
, ‘ The appellate court stated, “The offenses in this case could have thwarted the efforts of the nation and its citizens to prevent and control infectious diseases at that time,” and “Given the high infectivity and risks of COVID at the time, the direction of quarantine and prevention measures, and the severity of violating the gathering ban, the nature of the crimes is not favorable.” This is why they were found guilty. ‘,
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