Man Who Kicked Western District Court Judge's Office Was 'Special Evangelist' at Jeon Gwang-hoon's Church

by Han Jinjoo

Published 22 Jan.2025 20:12(KST)

Police Apply for Arrest Warrant After Emergency Detention on the 20th

It has been confirmed that the man accused of breaking into the 7th-floor judge's office at the Seoul Western District Court during the disturbance at the Western District Court was a 'Special Evangelist' of Sarang Jeil Church.

President Yoon Suk-yeol was arrested on charges of leading an insurrection, and a day after some supporters broke into the Seoul Western District Court and caused an illegal violent incident, traces of damage remain at the Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 20th. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

According to the legal community on the 22nd, the Seoul Southern District Court Civil Division 2-3 (Chief Judge Song Seung-yong) stated in a judgment on a compensation claim lawsuit dated May 30 last year that after conducting a sentencing hearing for Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church and a man in his 40s named Lee, "Defendant Lee held the position of 'Special Evangelist' at the defendant church."

It was reported that on the 19th, Lee stormed into the 7th floor where the judge's office is located, looking for Chief Judge Cha Eun-kyung, and caused a disturbance by kicking the office door. The police urgently arrested Lee on the 20th and subsequently applied for an arrest warrant.

The Special Evangelist is not a general evangelist engaged in missionary activities but is known to be a position appointed to carry out a 'special mission' assigned by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon.

The church denies these facts. In a statement released the previous day, the church clearly stated, "Lee is not a person who holds an official position at Sarang Jeil Church or receives any remuneration."