A religious leader in South Korea tested positive for the coronavirus after gathering with thousands of South Koreans to demand the resignation of President Moon Jae-in.
Rev. Jun Kwang-hun, head of the Sarang Jeil Church, led followers during the anti-government protests this weekend, and health officials in the country confirmed on Monday that he tested positive for the highly infectious disease.
Jun spoke before thousands of people at the densely packed demonstration and claimed there was a conspiracy against him and his church.
Jun, who has been a bitter critic of Moon’s policies during the pandemic, has been accused of spreading the disease after more than 300 of his 4,000-person church in Seoul contracted the disease since the outbreak, according to Korean authorities.
South Korean healthcare workers have been struggling to contain clusters of the disease after weeks of relative calm. On Monday, officials reported 197 new cases of coronavirus, marking the fourth day in a row that the nation has reported cases in the triple digits.
In early August, Lee Man-hee, the chairman of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, came under fierce criticism from the South Korean press for speaking out against coronavirus restrictions and refusing to halt church services.
