Jeon Gwang-hoon Appeals for Bail, Saying "I Developed Paralysis Symptoms After Not Receiving Treatment Since Detention"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, chairman of the Korea Christian Federation, who was indicted and detained on charges of appealing for support for a specific political party at the Gwanghwamun rally, appealed for the necessity of bail due to health reasons.

At the bail hearing for Pastor Jeon held on the 1st at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 34 (Presiding Judge Heo Seon-ah), the defense attorney stated, "Pastor Jeon has undergone multiple surgeries on his cervical spine (neck vertebrae area) and suffers from diabetes and renal dysfunction," adding, "There is a risk of sudden death, so he should be released."

Besides health issues, the defense argued, "There is no concern about evidence tampering or flight risk," and "He only said that people should support political parties that uphold the constitution, and prosecuting him for this is an abuse of prosecutorial authority and a destruction of the rule of law." They emphasized that there are many disputes regarding the charges and that a non-custodial trial is necessary to guarantee the right to defense.

Pastor Jeon himself said, "My health was actually at death's door during surgery last year," and "Since being detained this time, my treatment has been interrupted, causing paralysis symptoms in my neck and arms, making it impossible to eat or wash my face." He continued, "I accept being judged and tried, but I hope to be allowed to receive treatment first," appealing for release.

On the other hand, the prosecution countered, "This case is related to the general election and is not a minor matter. He has three prior convictions for similar crimes and committed this offense during a probation period, making the crime serious," arguing that detention is necessary. The prosecution added, "With the general election just two weeks away, it cannot be ruled out that similar offenses related to this case may occur."

The court stated, "We will decide on the bail request as soon as possible." The court regulations stipulate that, barring special circumstances, a decision on bail requests must be made within seven days.

Pastor Jeon is accused of conducting pre-election campaigning by repeatedly making statements at rallies in Gwanghwamun Square ahead of the general election, urging support for the Liberty Korea Party and other right-wing parties in the 21st National Assembly election.

The prosecution also added defamation charges, stating that Pastor Jeon made remarks at the rally such as "The president is a spy" and "The president attempted to turn South Korea into a communist state," which they claim damaged the honor of President Moon Jae-in.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.