South Korea used to be very proud of its anti-Covid-19 strategy, but a second wave of infection broke out, placing it all in doubt.

Korea applied a "two-prong" strategy in the fight against Covid-19, both fighting the virus and keeping the economy operating normally and it seemed to have brought into play it.

The country has prevented a major outbreak without having to close borders, blockade cities, and at the same time not make the public feel resistant to strict restrictions.

But now, South Korea has struggled with the second wave of infections and their proud response strategy has suddenly become more precarious than ever.

To complicate matters, young doctors, one of the government's strongest allies in the fight against Covid-19, are turning their backs on President Moon.

The government is also trying to balance efforts to control viruses and protect the economy, between using state power to protect public health but not encroaching on individual liberties.

"Our disease response strategy, once seen as a model of the world, is facing a sudden crisis," President Moon admitted last week.

South Korea's daily cases have consistently been kept below 10, but have risen to triple digits since August 14.

The virus spread rapidly into the community from the churches and a massive anti-government protest in mid-August. The Moon's administration threatened to prosecute church attendees and protesters, with

Undeterred, President Moon recently ordered tightening restrictions, banning church gatherings and large outdoor protests.

Epidemiologists have called for more drastic outliers, such as banning gatherings of more than 10 people and closing hundreds of other venues, such as professional sports matches, cafes and

However, President Moon expressed hesitancy, did not want to go so far due to fear of the damage to the economy that is facing many difficulties.

"We are at a crossroads," said Jung Eun-kyeong, director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September 2.

At the end of February, South Korea recorded as many as 900 cases a day, but they quickly flattened the infection curve thanks to a large-scale testing program and aggressive traceability.

People wear masks every day.

By May, South Korea is confident that its economy can be more active without causing an outbreak to re-emerge.

"We cannot put off a normal life forever," said President Moon at the time.

The government has launched 14 trillion won ($ 11.8 billion) in cash gifts to households to boost domestic consumption.

In August, just days after the number of infections spiked, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development predicted that the Korean economy this year will shrink only 0.8%, from an average of 7.5.

Millions of Koreans flock to the shopping streets in mid-August during a three-day weekend program initiated by the Moon administration to provide "a short but precious rest time for those tired of disease.

But even before the vacation started August 15, signs emerged that the easing of the restrictions made the disease spread faster.

An outbreak broke out at the Sarang Jeil Church in Seoul.

Yesterday, Pastor Jun Kwang-hoon, the head of the Sarang Jeil Church, held a press conference where he accused the government of turning the churches into "scapegoats" in order to silence those who pointed to

Dozens of smaller outbreaks have also formed, many of them rooted in churches, forcing the government to ban all religious ceremonies, except for those held online.

The increasing number of daily infections is not the only alarming sign.

As new outbreaks threaten to tarnish one of President Moon's greatest achievements, he is increasingly tough, warning that he will use the law to punish those who sabotage anti-epidemic efforts.

Police have so far prosecuted 959 people who violated disease control regulations, such as refusing to wear masks or going out to eat or drink, despite the epidemic restrictions.

Police arrested at least four people, including two pastors, on charges of interfering with epidemiological investigations by lying about their travel schedules or not truthfully declaring the size of their congregations.

Authorities also arrested 202 people suspected of spreading false information and leaking personal data, including two claiming on YouTube that the government was manipulating Covid-19 test results to quarantine

"It is impossible to let freedom of religion, assembly or speech cost us so dearly," President Moon said, accusing conservative church members of spreading viruses and threatening the economy.