Police Transfer Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon for 'Illegal Fundraising at Gwanghwamun Rally'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] The Jongno Police Station in Seoul announced on the 1st that Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church was re-referred to the prosecution on charges of collecting money from participants at the 2019 Gaecheonjeol Gwanghwamun Square rally, violating the Act on the Collection and Use of Donations.

Pastor Jeon is accused of collecting offerings at an event involving conservative groups and church members without registering with the relevant authorities. According to the Act on the Collection and Use of Donations, anyone intending to collect donations exceeding 10 million won must prepare a recruitment and usage plan and register it with the Minister of the Interior and Safety or the head of a metropolitan local government.

The police completed the investigation in May last year into this case as well as cases filed by the Democratic Party and Protestant organizations against Pastor Jeon.

The charge of violating the Act on the Collection and Use of Donations was forwarded to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment. However, regarding the charges of inciting rebellion related to Pastor Jeon's remarks about "arresting the president" at the rally, as well as violations of the National Security Act and organizing a criminal group, the police sent the case with a "no charges" opinion.

The prosecution, having received the case, instructed the police to supplement the investigation into the donation law violation, and the police recalculated the amount collected and completed the investigation at the end of last month.

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