Lessons For America: How South Korean Authorities Used Law To Fight The Coronavirus
De CidesaWiki
To date, South Korea COVID-19 Korea has confirmed 8,236 cases of coronavirus infection, with roughly 60 percent linked to the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a secretive Korean cult. More than three-quarters of South Korean cases have occurred in the southeastern city of Daegu, where Shincheonji counts some 10,000 members. The country has attracted international renown for a formidable testing capacity that has already screened 274,504 people for the virus and includes more than 50 pop-up drive-through stations capable of testing potential patients within minutes. Fifty-four days since its first case, South Korea has officially turned the tide, reporting more recoveries per day than new infections. But how do the legal instruments deployed by South Korea compare to the authorities available to federal and state officials in the United States? ]emocracies are better at fighting outbreaks." For many, it seemed that a swift South Korean triumph over the virus would equate to victory for democratic transparency. Conversely, if China failed, then that proved the "sickness" of authoritarianism writ large—and so on. But the tables have since turned, with more new cases emerging outside China than from within, where it originated.
Moon is himself a practicing Catholic. Up to this point, the government has refrained from banning religious gatherings nationwide, instead recommending online services to prevent spread of the virus. Those worshipping in person are required to practice social distancing and wear face masks. This has not stopped opponents of Moon claiming he is anti-religion, along with accusing him of being a Communist for his engagement with Pyongyang. At the rally on Saturday, Jun repeated claims that Moon was "handing over South Korea to North Korea" saying Communism has taken over the Blue House, the presidential office. For his part, Moon described the banned rally targeting him as "a very senseless act that hampers everybody's efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus." He also described it as an unforgivable act that could jeopardize people's lives.
South Korean authorities on Saturday arrested Lee Man-hee, the powerful head of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, which is linked to more than 5,200 coronavirus infections, or 36% of South Korea's total cases. The church's branch in the southern city of Daegu emerged as the biggest cluster in the country after infections spiked in late February. Prosecutors allege the 89-year-old conspired with other sect leaders to withhold information from authorities during the peak of the outbreak among his more than 200,000 followers.
