[Report] "Destroy the Church and You Will Be Cursed" Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon and Sarang Jeil Church Members Maintain Strict Vigilance Against Demolition

On the 7th, at the Sarang Jeil Church site in Jangwi-dong 10 District, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul
Church members strongly oppose suspicions surrounding the church, including vigilance against outsiders
Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon's first trial ruling on eviction lawsuit contested... Preparing for the second trial

On the afternoon of the 7th, Jangwi-dong 10 District in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, designated as a redevelopment area. Sarang Jeil Church, located within this district, continues to dispute with the redevelopment association and the Seoul Metropolitan Government over compensation issues. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "Do not touch the church. You will be punished by heaven for that.", "Heaven is watching everything."

On the 7th, the road leading to Sarang Jeil Church in Jangwi-dong 10 District, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, designated as a redevelopment area, was filled with empty houses and shops.

Looking at this neighborhood from the outskirts where the church is not visible, only the bleakness characteristic of a redevelopment-designated area remains. Various construction waste and piles of trash wrapped in sacks overflowed at every corner of the street.

However, entering the access road to the church along this alley, banners hung by church members opposing demolition can be seen everywhere. The banners contain warnings that one may be punished for "obstructing worship."

Jangwi-dong 10 District in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, designated as a redevelopment area. The streets throughout the area were filled with trash and waste discarded during the residents' relocation process. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

This area was designated as a redevelopment zone in 2006, and residents began relocating in 2018. Because of this, only the church remains standing alone here.

A resident in his 50s, whom we met just across a road from the area not selected for redevelopment, said, "I don't know how the compensation issue is being handled, but the neighborhood is very noisy," and added, "I hope the situation is resolved as soon as possible."

Another resident in his 40s said, "I think the church relocation issue is somewhat sensitive," but emphasized, "It is true that the noise is loud. I hope the situation is resolved amicably."

The reason only the church remains after all the residents have left is due to compensation issues. The church claims that if it relocates, the number of congregants will decrease, so a larger church must be built, demanding 56.3 billion KRW as compensation. The Seoul Land Expropriation Committee appraised the compensation at 8.2 billion KRW.

Meanwhile, the redevelopment association filed an eviction lawsuit against the church to vacate the building, and the court ruled in favor of the association on the 14th of last month.

An eviction lawsuit is a lawsuit in which the property rights holder (association) requests the occupant (church) to vacate the property. Through this lawsuit, the association can order the church to hand over the property. If the church refuses, forced demolition can be carried out.

On the afternoon of the 7th, on the road heading to Sarang Jeil Church from District 10, Jangwi-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, designated as a redevelopment area. A banner with the phrase "Strongly Oppose Forced Eviction" is displayed. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

As a result, church members have been attending overnight prayer meetings to prevent forced demolition, staying overnight at the church, and maintaining strict vigilance during the day in case demolition personnel arrive.

On the 5th, the day known as the demolition date, hundreds of church members marched through a nearby residential area holding placards with phrases such as "Resolutely Oppose Forced Demolition" and "Arrest the Chairman of the OOO Association." Some church members shouted "Resolutely Oppose Forced Demolition" and blocked outsiders from entering the church.

On the afternoon of the 7th, this strict vigilance continued. Some church members showed strong suspicion toward people who appeared to be outsiders not affiliated with the church, expressing strong dissatisfaction by saying things like "Are you a reporter?" and "We do not respond to any inquiries."

Warning signs stating "No Entry for Reporters and Broadcasters" were posted throughout the church, and if people who did not appear to be church members were seen talking with congregants, several burly men would come out to check their identities.

A banner hung near Sarang Jeil Church, which is subject to forced demolition. It contains a warning that says "Obstruction of Worship Crime."

On this day, two men approached the reporter to check his identity and blocked the coverage. They said, "We are not completely blocking coverage," but emphasized, "We have nothing to say regarding compensation and related issues." Another man said, "We ask for your understanding of the situation."

Meanwhile, a female church member in her 70s who agreed to an interview said, "I don't know about the compensation issues being disputed between the court and the church," but raised her voice, saying, "It is unimaginable to demolish the church due to redevelopment."

Another church member in her late 60s said, "I don't know why they are treating us so harshly," and expressed frustration, saying, "What is so wrong about praying in the church?"

These church members sat on event chairs set up in the church yard and exchanged conversations. Around 3 p.m., about 30 congregants gathered in the yard. Some received laying-on-of-hands prayers or discussed how the church could resolve the compensation-related issues.

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon [Photo by Yonhap News]

Approaching the church entrance, there was a book titled "Prison Letters" published through a proxy while Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon was detained. The price was 18,000 KRW. It was possible to purchase with a disaster relief card. Since the congregants had already bought them, not a single copy was available.

Meanwhile, the reconstruction association is reportedly coordinating the forced demolition date due to concerns about clashes with church members. On the demolition day, the 5th, the demolition was postponed due to fears of physical conflict with congregants.

Meanwhile, Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon expressed Sarang Jeil Church's position on compensation through a church worship sermon. In a YouTube video containing his sermon, Pastor Jeon emphasized, "Regarding redevelopment, religious sites proceed through consultation."

Regarding the background of the 56 billion KRW cost for building a new church, he said, "This is not just a baseless demand," and emphasized, "We gathered all cases of churches that were developed before us nationwide and applied for 56 billion KRW."

Regarding the first trial ruling on the eviction lawsuit, he said, "This is the first trial. We have applied for the second trial. I plan to personally appear for the defense in the second trial."

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