South Korea’s Latest Covid Spike: A Curious Church Mystery
Yesterday, Seoul reported a fresh burst of 4,116 new Covid‑19 cases, pushing the nation over its daily record. One small rural community – a town of just 427 people in Cheonan, south of Seoul – is at the heart of this surge, thanks to an unusual religious sect.
The “Eye‑Poking” Devotion
- The group, founded in the early 1990s, is not officially registered but has grown steadily, even building its own communal living facilities.
- Its leader is famous for a bizarre ritual: the “imposition of hands on eyes”. According to cult researcher Jung Youn‑seok, this involves poking two community members’ eyes to purge worldly desires.
- Jung slammed the practice as “extremely dangerous and non‑biblical”, and reminded that a similar ritual had been banned in Korea’s mainstream Christianity.
- The pastor’s mother was a powerful figure too – she was toppled from the Christian community in the ’90s for repeated use of the same eye‑poking trick.
What the Numbers Say
The Cheonan city official informed Reuters on Nov 24 that 241 people associated with the church tested positive for Covid‑19. Shockingly, only 17 of those cases were fully vaccinated.
Because the congregation was largely flat‑out 60 + and unvaccinated, the officials suspect the sect’s anti‑government stance influenced the refusal to get the vaccine.
Community Under Lockdown
To curb further spread, the town has been placed under lockdown. The influx of cases in such a small town provides a stark reminder of how quickly the virus can multiply in focused clusters.
Remembering the Bigger Picture
While the Cheonan incident represents only a fraction of nationwide numbers, it echoes a previous pandemic hotspot: the Shincheonji church. In 2020, that group’s service in Daegu led to at least 5,227 infections among its 310,000 members.
South Korea is urging booster shots for its citizens, especially those with severe symptoms flooding hospitals.
Key Takeaway
When it comes to Covid‑19, ignoring vaccines can turn a tiny town into a hotbed of illness—and that’s a lesson no community wants to lose.
Emergency plan imminent
South Korea Slides into a “Living With Covid‑19” Era
In a bold shift, the Republic of Korea has dropped its all‑out lockdown ban and is stepping into a new chapter where people can get back to normal life—once the country reaches its vaccination goals.
Why the Switch?
Prime Minister Kim Boo‑kyum delivered the news at a Covid‑19 response meeting on Wednesday. He warned that Seoul’s situation is on the brink of an emergency, and if ICU capacity hits 75 % or if risk assessments point to a looming crisis, the government will pull the trigger on a new emergency plan.
Key Takeaways:
- Prime Minister Kim urges health officials to triage patients by severity and deploy self‑care for mild or asymptomatic cases.
- Only less than 20 % of people were self‑treating at home last week, leaving a lot of room for improvement.
- Currently, 71 % of ICU beds nationwide, and a staggering 83.7 % in the Seoul capital region, are already occupied.
- Hospitals are treating 586 severe Covid‑19 patients, most of whom (over 85 %) are aged sixty or older.
The Numbers You Should Know
- Total infections: 425,065 cases.
- Total deaths: 3,363, bringing the fatality rate down to 0.79 %.
- Full vaccination coverage stands at 79.1 % of the 52‑million population.
- Only 4.1 % have received a booster dose.
What’s Next for South Korea?
While the mortality rate remains comparatively low, the nation’s medical system is still under pressure. Administrators are scrambling to secure more ICU beds and are coordinating with hospitals to fill vacant spots. The government’s new “living” strategy hinges on boosting vaccine uptake—especially booster shots—and keeping patients’ severity into check.
So the next month could see a relaxation of distancing rules, but keep your mask handy, especially if you’re on the older side or haven’t had your booster. The goal? To blend caution with normalcy, and perhaps, to give the global spotlight another chance to shine on how fast East Asia can pivot.
