[Comprehensive] "Jeon Gwang-hoon Bail Should Be Revoked" Ruling Party 'Angry' at Gwanghwamun Rally, Launches Fierce Attack on United Future Party

Rapid Surge in COVID-19 Cases at Sarang Jeil Church
Ruling Party Asks, "What Is the United Future Party's Position?"

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon holding a press conference regarding the eviction enforcement of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul last June.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As COVID-19 community infections are surging mainly among large churches such as Sarang Jeil Church that attended the rally in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, the ruling party is holding the United Future Party responsible and demanding the cancellation of bail and urgent arrest of Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, the senior pastor of Sarang Jeil Church.

Democratic Party presidential candidates are also fiercely criticizing Pastor Jeon and conservative groups who forcibly held a large-scale rally the day before.

On the 16th, Rep. Lee Nak-yeon wrote on his Facebook, "The prosecution requested the court to cancel Pastor Jeon's bail this evening. It is a natural measure," and pointed out, "Pastor Jeon violated all bail conditions that he should not participate in illegal rallies or demonstrations after being released on bail due to his critical health condition."

He continued, "Ahead of Liberation Day, Pastor Jeon gathered nationwide believers of Sarang Jeil Church, where a cluster of confirmed cases had emerged for a month, to Gwanghwamun. At the Gwanghwamun rally, Pastor Jeon said, '(The current government) even today tried to prevent me from coming here by pouring the Wuhan virus from China into our church.'"

Rep. Lee criticized, "His words and actions can no longer be overlooked or tolerated. He mocked state authority and threatened citizens' health. He nullified the efforts of quarantine authorities working day and night to end COVID-19 and discouraged medical staff sweating in protective suits under the heat."

He added, "Despite the obvious risk of collective actions challenging quarantine measures, I cannot help but deeply question the court's partial approval of the Gwanghwamun rally. The trial court that released him on bail should immediately re-arrest him to demonstrate the strictness of the law," he emphasized.

Rep. Park Joo-min also argued that Pastor Jeon's detention should be reconsidered for violating bail conditions.

Rep. Park wrote on his Facebook that "At the time of bail approval, the court allowed bail on the condition that Pastor Jeon must stay only at his residence, cannot contact or communicate by any means such as phone calls, text messages, or SNS with anyone except his lawyer who knows facts necessary for the trial, and must not participate in any illegal rallies or demonstrations related to the case," and pointed out, "Since Pastor Jeon violated all these conditions, the bail approval decision must be revoked according to the Criminal Procedure Act."

Candidate Kim Boo-kyum also criticized on Facebook, "(Pastor Jeon) is spouting absurd black propaganda, claiming his church was 'attacked by virus terrorism' and that virus germs were spread in the church. This behavior is neither politics nor freedom of expression but mere delusion and obsession. It is antisocial deviance."

He added, "Holding rallies in crowded places while deliberately removing masks and then using public transportation and crowded facilities without hesitation is a criminal act that directly rejects preventive measures stipulated in Article 49 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act," he criticized.

From the left, Park Ju-min, Kim Bu-gyeom, and Lee Nak-yeon, candidates for the Democratic Party of Korea's party leader, are shaking hands and greeting each other at the joint online (ontact) speech meeting for party leader and supreme councilor candidates from the Honam and Chungcheong regions, held at the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 16th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Pastor Jeon was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act by appealing for support for a specific party at the Gwanghwamun Square rally ahead of the April 15 general election.

Pastor Jeon was detained in February but was released on bail on April 20 due to poor health. However, conditions were attached, including not participating in illegal rallies or demonstrations and staying only at his residence.

Nevertheless, Pastor Jeon violated these conditions and participated in the conservative groups' Liberation Day rally held at Gwanghwamun Square the day before. As a result, 150 additional confirmed cases related to the church were reported.

Meanwhile, voices within the Democratic Party are calling for holding the United Future Party accountable.

Democratic Party spokesperson Song Gap-seok said in a statement, "The United Future Party is consistently unresponsive and silent regarding a series of deviant acts by conservative groups, their main support base," and asked, "What is their stance on the large-scale illegal rallies by conservative groups that caused a resurgence of COVID-19 and threatened the lives of the people?"

Democratic Party lawmaker So Byung-hoon also launched an offensive against the United Future Party. On his Facebook, he wrote, "Does the United Future Party prioritize public safety or loyalty to the Taegeukgi Unit? If they truly prioritize public safety, I urge them to immediately expel party members who attended the rally."

On the afternoon of the 15th, Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church is speaking at a rally condemning the government and ruling party held in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The United Future Party maintains that quarantine is the top priority. On the 16th, spokesperson Bae Jun-young said in a statement, "It is time to tighten the reins on quarantine again," and added, "The spread of COVID-19 is serious."

He continued, "The government's decision to raise social distancing to Level 2 in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province is a very timely measure," and added, "The government should alleviate public anxiety with more sophisticated and meticulous measures, keeping in mind that 'national quarantine is the best welfare.'"

Spokesperson Bae emphasized, "The United Future Party will also roll up its sleeves and cooperate on issues directly related to the lives and safety of the people." However, he did not mention the conservative groups' rally held at Gwanghwamun Square the day before.

Earlier, United Future Party leaders including Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in and Floor Leader Joo Ho-young decided not to attend the Liberation Day rally. Joining the outdoor protest amid the COVID-19 resurgence could trigger negative public opinion and backlash.

Among United Future Party lawmakers, Rep. Hong Moon-pyo was the only one who attended the Liberation Day rally. Former lawmakers Kim Jin-tae and Min Kyung-wook, who lost in the 21st general election, were also reported to have attended.

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