(ChurchLeaders) In South Korea, where COVID-19 clusters keep emerging despite aggressive measures, Protestant churches say they’re being singled out with “repressive” governmental measures. Starting July 10, any type of small group gatherings held inside Protestant church buildings—except for Sunday worship services—are banned. If needed, officials say, the ban also will be extended to Catholic churches and Buddhist temples.
This week, the Rev. Kim Tae-young, president of the United Christian Churches of Korea (UCCK), spoke out against the restriction, saying he “felt angry and humiliated while watching the government’s announcement.” Officials proceeded “without even trying to reach out to churches for communication,” he says, adding that he has “struggled to figure out why they did that.”