"Fraud Scheme" Criticized by Moon, Jeon Gwang-hoon... Ruling Party Says "Playing Victim," "Must Be Immediately Re-Arrested"

Jeon Gwang-hoon tells President Moon, "I'll give you a month to apologize"
Ruling party calls Jeon Gwang-hoon "the height of shamelessness," "must hold accountable for unreasonable behavior"

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, who was treated for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and discharged, is holding a press conference on the 2nd in front of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Jeon Gwang-hoon, the senior pastor of Sarang Jeil Church who was discharged after COVID-19 treatment, criticized President Moon Jae-in by calling the government's quarantine measures a 'fraud,' sparking a wave of condemnation from ruling party figures on the 2nd.

Choi In-ho, chief spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at a National Assembly briefing that day, "Pastor Jeon, during his discharge press conference, showed no remorse for the virus spread and instead insisted with sophistry and victim cosplay that 'the government is trying to eliminate the church.'" He added, "Pastor Jeon must be held accountable for his irrational and unreasonable behavior."

He continued, "The Sarang Jeil Church legal team has gone further, threatening to sue the quarantine authorities and police, including Jung Eun-kyung, director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, who are fighting on the front lines of COVID-19 prevention," criticizing, "This is a threat to the public."

No Woong-rae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, also criticized Pastor Jeon in a Facebook post that day, saying, "It's like saving a drowning person only to have them demand their belongings. This is the height of shamelessness," and added, "His act of insulting the government's quarantine and medical system that treated him is nothing short of monstrous."

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, who was treated for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and discharged, is holding a press conference on the 2nd in front of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Voices demanding the cancellation of Pastor Jeon's bail are also growing louder. Shin Dong-geun, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, said on Facebook, "(Pastor Jeon) should be reflecting on himself, but instead, he is doing things that no human should do, even before being a pastor," and added, "We strongly demand the judicial authorities immediately revoke his bail and impose strict punishment on Pastor Jeon, who committed a serious social crime by maliciously obstructing quarantine activities and threatening the lives and safety of the people."

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Won-wook also wrote on Facebook, "Defendant Jeon Gwang-hoon should be subject to a bail revocation hearing, not a press conference," and said, "The court should immediately set a hearing date and re-arrest defendant Jeon Gwang-hoon for violating bail conditions."

He added, "If the problems caused by Pastor Jeon are left unattended under the pretext of freedom rights or natural human rights, the court neglects its duty to protect citizens," emphasizing, "The court must set a hearing date immediately."

Park Beom-gye, a Democratic Party lawmaker and former judge, also joined the criticism. On his Facebook that day, he posted a message titled 'A Message to the Court,' stating, "Every word and action of Pastor Jeon divides the nation and society, obstructs COVID-19 prevention, and violates statutory law. There are more than enough reasons to revoke bail," and urged, "Please hold a bail revocation hearing immediately."

Earlier that day, Pastor Jeon held a press conference in front of Sarang Jeil Church in Jangwi-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, claiming, "The government tried to pin the entire 'Wuhan virus' on us (the church) and stage a fraud, but thanks to the wise judgment of the people, it failed."

He said, "Over the past year, tens of millions gathered at Gwanghwamun Square demanding President Moon apologize for denying the founding of the nation in 1948 and for advocating a lower-level federal system," and added, "(President Moon) did not respond to that but repeatedly tried to incite redevelopment to remove me and our church."

Then Pastor Jeon addressed President Moon, saying, "I will give you a month. Apologize to the people," and warned, "If you continue deceiving the people with themes of national denial and false peaceful unification, I will risk my life after a month. I am prepared to be a martyr."

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