A fine was finalized for Son Hyun-bo, pastor of Busan Saegero Church, who hosted in-person worship services in violation of assembly restriction orders during the COVID-19 period.
The Supreme Court's Second Division (presiding Justice Oh Kyung-mi) on the 26th finalized the lower court ruling that sentenced Pastor Son, who was indicted on charges of violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, to a fine of 3 million won.
From August 2020 to January 2021, Son was brought to trial twice on charges of hosting in-person worship services on 11 occasions in violation of the Busan mayor's assembly restriction orders. At the time, the city of Busan had issued assembly restriction orders limiting gatherings above a certain number at churches in the city.
In the first instance, the court imposed fines of 3 million won and 700,000 won in the two respective cases. The appellate court combined them and imposed a total fine of 3 million won.
The appellate panel said, "The quarantine measures by administrative authorities to prevent the spread of infectious diseases are intended to promote and maintain public health, so there is a strong need to punish violations," adding, "The defendant repeatedly violated the assembly restriction orders on multiple occasions."
Son argued that the provisions of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act were unconstitutional for violating the constitutional principles of proportionality and equality, and that the assembly restriction orders under those provisions were null and void. He appealed the appellate ruling, but the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, finding that the lower court had not misunderstood the law.
Meanwhile, Son was arrested and indicted last year on charges of conducting illegal electioneering ahead of the presidential election and the Busan superintendent of education by-election. Last month, the court of first instance sentenced Son to six months in prison, suspended for one year, and released him.