'Demolition Threat' Sarangjeil Church Files Injunction to Halt Court-Enforced Eviction

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Sarang Jeil Church, where Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon serves as the head pastor, has once again filed for a stay of execution to prevent forced demolition in the appeal trial of the eviction lawsuit against the redevelopment association.

According to the legal community on the 18th, Sarang Jeil Church recently applied for a stay of execution to the Civil Division 22 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Ki Woo-jong, Kim Young-hoon, and Ju Seon-ah), which is hearing the appeal trial of the eviction lawsuit. An eviction lawsuit refers to a lawsuit in which a person holding rights to real estate demands the occupant to vacate the property.

Sarang Jeil Church, located in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, lost the first trial of the eviction lawsuit filed by the Jangwi 10 District Redevelopment Association in May. Accordingly, the association was allowed to forcibly demolish the Sarang Jeil Church building.

Immediately after losing the first trial, Sarang Jeil Church applied for a stay of execution at the first trial court, the Seoul Northern District Court, but it was not accepted. After being dismissed once in the appeal trial as well, they have now applied for the third time.

Sarang Jeil Church argued that the building subject to the eviction lawsuit is used not only by the church but also by organizations such as the Christian Liberty Party and the Korea Movement to Set the Republic Straight (Daegukbon), so the lawsuit filed solely against the church has no effect.

However, the stay of execution applications filed by other organizations sharing the building, as well as Sarang Jeil Church, were also rejected by the court.

After winning the first trial, the association attempted forced execution twice on the church building in June of this year but withdrew after facing opposition from the church members.

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