Jeon Gwang-hoon, who led last year's Gwangbokjeol rally, to face trial for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, who defied the assembly ban order and held a rally on Liberation Day last year, has been brought to trial.

According to the legal community on the 9th, the Criminal Division 10 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jin Hyun-il) indicted Pastor Jeon without detention on the 6th for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

Previously, Pastor Jeon was prosecuted for holding a rally near Gwanghwamun Station on August 15 last year, demanding the resignation of President Moon Jae-in. At the time, he was accused of violating the organizer compliance requirements and holding the rally despite the assembly ban order. Afterward, Pastor Jeon tested positive for COVID-19, and the rally was identified as a source of a mass infection. Six participants of the rally were also indicted without detention for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

At that time, the Seoul city government issued an assembly ban order, but the court permitted two locations, including in front of Dongwha Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, as rally sites, which led crowds including members of Sarang Jeil Church to gather near Gwanghwamun Station. Pastor Jeon also attended the rally, violating the self-quarantine measures imposed by health authorities.

However, after the Liberation Day rally, COVID-19 cases surged mainly among Sarang Jeil Church members. Pastor Jeon has announced plans to hold a large-scale rally in the city center again on this year’s Liberation Day.

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