Coronavirus shincheonji church leader apologises for spread

You're referring to the apology made by Lee Man-hee, the founder and leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, for the spread of COVID-19 in South Korea.

On February 18, 2020, Lee Man-hee issued a public apology for the church's role in the spread of the virus, which was linked to a cluster of cases in Daegu, a city in southeastern South Korea. At the time, the church had around 200,000 members, and many of them were infected with the virus.

In his apology, Lee acknowledged that the church's failure to take adequate measures to prevent the spread of the virus had contributed to the outbreak. He also expressed regret for any harm or inconvenience caused to the public and promised to cooperate with the government's efforts to contain the outbreak.

The apology came after a series of reports emerged highlighting the church's lack of transparency and cooperation with health authorities, as well as allegations of cover-ups and misinformation. The church had initially refused to provide a list of its members to health authorities, citing concerns about privacy and religious freedom.

Lee's apology was seen as a significant step towards addressing the public's concerns and rebuilding trust between the church and the government. However, the church's reputation was already severely damaged, and many of its members were criticized for their initial reluctance to cooperate with health authorities.

The Shincheonji Church of Jesus is a Christian denomination that was founded in 1984 by Lee Man-hee. It has been accused of being a cult by some critics, who point to its authoritarian structure, secretive practices, and allegations of financial exploitation. The church has denied these allegations and claims to be a legitimate Christian denomination.