Editing Lee Man-hee (section)

== COVID-19 outbreak ==
{{main|COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea}}
On 22 February 2020, South Korea confirmed that 231 of their 433 cases of [[COVID-19]] were from within the Shincheonji sect.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/22/asia/south-korea-coronavirus-religious-group-intl/index.html|title=A controversial religious group is at the center of South Korea's coronavirus outbreak|first=Luke |last=McGee|website=CNN|date=22 February 2020 |access-date=2020-02-23}}</ref> Lee called the coronavirus a "devil's deed" intended to stop the sect's growth, but he canceled all gatherings of his faith. The [[Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] said the practice of gathering followers in close quarters for religious services may have contributed to the fast spread of the disease.<ref name="south-korean-coronavirus-spike-wapo">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/south-korean-coronavirus-spike-linked-to-doomsday-sect-with-messianic-leader/2020/02/21/cd3e1220-54c2-11ea-9e47-59804be1dcfb_story.html|title=South Korean coronavirus spike linked to doomsday sect with messianic leader|first=Min Joo |last=Kim |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=21 February 2020|access-date=22 February 2020}}</ref>

On 1 March 2020, Seoul mayor [[Park Won-soon]] announced that the [[Seoul Metropolitan Government]] had made a criminal complaint about Lee, asking for an investigation into him and twelve others connected to the sect on charges of murder and violations of the Disease Control Act, citing their negligence in preventing an outbreak among their parishioners and their refusal to cooperate with the government throughout the crisis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea-murder/murder-probe-sought-for-south-korea-sect-at-center-of-coronavirus-outbreak-idUSKBN20P07Q?il=0|title=Murder probe sought for South Korea sect at center of coronavirus outbreak|last=Cha|first=Sangmi|date=2 March 2020|work=Reuters|access-date=2 March 2020}}</ref>

On 31 July 2020, Lee was arrested by South Korean authorities for allegedly violating the ''Infectious Disease and Control Act''. At issue was a dispute over withholding data from the government for contact tracing, with the church asserting privacy. Lee was also charged with embezzlement and other crimes. By this time, the Shincheonji Church was being linked to more than 5,200 coronavirus infections or 36% of South Korea’s total cases.<ref>{{cite news|title=South Korea sect leader arrested over coronavirus outbreak|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea-church/south-korea-sect-leader-arrested-over-coronavirus-outbreak-idUSKCN24W37V|work=Reuters|location=Seoul|date=July 31, 2020|access-date=August 1, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Shincheonji: Coronavirus: South Korean Shincheonji sect leader arrested|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53620633|work=BBC|location=Seoul|date=August 1, 2020|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref> On 13 January 2021 Suwon District Court in Seoul acquitted Lee of violating the infectious disease laws. However, Lee was convicted of embezzling 5.6 billion won ($4.7m USD) and obstruction of public affairs. Lee was sentenced to three years in prison. He remains out of jail on probation for four years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shincheonji: Korean sect leader found not guilty of breaking virus law|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55642653|work=BBC|location=Seoul|date=January 13, 2021|access-date=November 29, 2021}}</ref>