This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-51695649
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: South Korea sect leader to face probe over deaths | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The leader of a religious sect in South Korea will be investigated over some of the country's coronavirus deaths. | |
| The city government of the capital Seoul has asked prosecutors to charge Lee Man-hee, the founder of the Shincheonji Church, and 11 others. | The city government of the capital Seoul has asked prosecutors to charge Lee Man-hee, the founder of the Shincheonji Church, and 11 others. |
| They are accused of hiding the names of some members as officials tried to track patients before the virus spread. | They are accused of hiding the names of some members as officials tried to track patients before the virus spread. |
| South Korea is battling the worst coronavirus outbreak outside China. | South Korea is battling the worst coronavirus outbreak outside China. |
| The country has reported 3,730 cases and 21 deaths so far. More than half of all infections involve members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a fringe Christian group. | The country has reported 3,730 cases and 21 deaths so far. More than half of all infections involve members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a fringe Christian group. |
| Authorities say Shincheonji members infected one another in the southern city of Daegu last month, before fanning out around the country. | Authorities say Shincheonji members infected one another in the southern city of Daegu last month, before fanning out around the country. |
| What's happening in South Korea? | What's happening in South Korea? |
| On Sunday the Seoul City government filed a legal complaint to prosecutors against 12 leaders of the sect. They are accused of homicide, causing harm and violating the Infectious Disease and Control Act. | On Sunday the Seoul City government filed a legal complaint to prosecutors against 12 leaders of the sect. They are accused of homicide, causing harm and violating the Infectious Disease and Control Act. |
| All 230,000 members of the church have been interviewed. Nearly 9,000 said they were showing symptoms of coronavirus. | All 230,000 members of the church have been interviewed. Nearly 9,000 said they were showing symptoms of coronavirus. |
| A 61-year-old female member of the sect who tested positive for the virus was among the first to be infected. | A 61-year-old female member of the sect who tested positive for the virus was among the first to be infected. |
| She initially refused to be taken to a hospital to be tested and is known to have attended several church gatherings before testing positive. | She initially refused to be taken to a hospital to be tested and is known to have attended several church gatherings before testing positive. |
| The sect's leader, Lee Man-hee, claims he is the Messiah. He has also been tested for the virus and is awaiting the results. | |
| Roman Catholic churches remain closed, major Protestant groups have cancelled Sunday services and all Buddhist events have been called off. | Roman Catholic churches remain closed, major Protestant groups have cancelled Sunday services and all Buddhist events have been called off. |
| Anger grows over sect's response | |
| Growing anger over the sect's handling of the outbreak has sparked a petition calling for the church to be disbanded. Nearly 1.2m people have signed it. | |
| This investigation has been sparked by Seoul City Mayor Park Won-soon, who urged the Chief Prosecutor to detain the sect leader. | |
| He warned that he would request a criminal investigation for homicide by wilful negligence and, on Sunday evening, he filed the claim with the prosecutor's office. | |
| But this does not mean the church leaders will face murder charges. It means prosecutors will have to look into the case. | |
| Once prosecutors have finished their investigation they will decide which charges, if any, to bring against the sect. | |
| What do I need to know about the coronavirus? | What do I need to know about the coronavirus? |
| Who is Lee Man-hee? | Who is Lee Man-hee? |
| Lee Man-hee, 88, claims he is the second coming of Jesus Christ and identifies as "the promised pastor" mentioned in the Bible. | Lee Man-hee, 88, claims he is the second coming of Jesus Christ and identifies as "the promised pastor" mentioned in the Bible. |
| He founded the Shincheonji Church in 1984. In Korean, Shincheonji means "new heaven and earth". | He founded the Shincheonji Church in 1984. In Korean, Shincheonji means "new heaven and earth". |
| The group is considered a cult by many. Mr Lee's followers believe he will take 144,000 people to heaven with him. | The group is considered a cult by many. Mr Lee's followers believe he will take 144,000 people to heaven with him. |
| The church says it has more than 20,000 followers outside of South Korea including in China, Japan and areas of Southeast Asia. | The church says it has more than 20,000 followers outside of South Korea including in China, Japan and areas of Southeast Asia. |
| The group is known for packing its followers tightly together during services. Glasses, necklaces and earrings are reportedly banned from services. | The group is known for packing its followers tightly together during services. Glasses, necklaces and earrings are reportedly banned from services. |
| What about the rest of the world? | What about the rest of the world? |
| More than 85,403 cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed in over 50 countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). | More than 85,403 cases of the new coronavirus have been confirmed in over 50 countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). |
| The global death toll is more than 2,900. The vast majority of infections and deaths are in China. | The global death toll is more than 2,900. The vast majority of infections and deaths are in China. |
| On Sunday, Australia and Thailand also recorded their first fatalities from the coronavirus. | On Sunday, Australia and Thailand also recorded their first fatalities from the coronavirus. |
| A 78-year-old Australian man died after being infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan last month. | A 78-year-old Australian man died after being infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan last month. |
| Thailand, which has had 42 cases of the virus, said a 35-year-old man who died was also suffering from dengue fever. | Thailand, which has had 42 cases of the virus, said a 35-year-old man who died was also suffering from dengue fever. |
| In Paris, the Louvre museum did not open on Sunday. The museum said on Twitter a meeting was being held on the public health situation and "the museum cannot open at the moment". | In Paris, the Louvre museum did not open on Sunday. The museum said on Twitter a meeting was being held on the public health situation and "the museum cannot open at the moment". |
| France has banned all indoor gatherings of more than 5,000 people, as part of efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak. | France has banned all indoor gatherings of more than 5,000 people, as part of efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak. |
| Have you been affected by the coronavirus? Or do you have any information to share? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been affected by the coronavirus? Or do you have any information to share? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |