The Reverend Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who is accused of instructing violent protest demonstrations that occurred at the Seoul Western District Court following the issuance of an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, said on the 13th, "I have nothing to do with the western incident."
The Reverend Jeon held a press conference at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 13th and said, "(The assembly in front of the Western District Court at that time) was a reported assembly, not an illegal gathering, and the movement of about 3 kilometers from Gwanghwamun to Gongdeok-dong was conducted under police guidance and supervision."
He stated, "I have been searched (so many times) that I have not used my cellphone for over three months," and added, "The police were disappointed and went away as there was no information related to the Western District Court. I have nothing to hide and I am proud." He revealed the fact that he had replaced his cellphone more than two months before the police raid on the 5th. However, he did not provide a clear answer to the question of whether he was willing to voluntarily submit his cellphone to the police. When reporters posed the same question, he said, "First, apologize for the false reports."
The Reverend Jeon also claimed, "During the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, the presidential office's social chief secretary visited our church several times," and stated, "I told the secretary, 'Why is the president doing politics like this? If this continues, he will surely be impeached,' but it seems that was not conveyed." When reporters asked if he had ever received a request for support from the presidential office during the impeachment phase, he responded, "Why are you asking the same question again?" without answering.
Earlier, it was revealed that Seong Sam-young, a former administrative officer of the Citizen Society Office at the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's presidential office, demanded mobilization of supporters from Shin Hye-sik, the operator of the YouTube channel 'God's One Chance,' during the execution of an arrest warrant for former President Yoon in January. The Reverend Jeon, who has been at the forefront of protests against the impeachment of former President Yoon, is thought to have defined the communication with the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's presidential office as "political advice" in light of the possibility of being implicated in the 'suspicions of mobilizing supporters.'
The Reverend Jeon also stated regarding support for civic groups, "I preach on Sundays and receive 20 million won a month from the church's finances to support civic groups, continuing the Gwanghwamun movement to this day," and added, "I have given YouTubers coming out in Gwanghwamun between 100,000 to 200,000 won."
He continued, "Since I sent funds to those involved in the riot at the Western District Court, they slander me, saying, 'He is stealing offerings,' but as a retired pastor, I cannot interfere with the church's finances." This is interpreted as denying suspicions of supporting those involved in the riot at the denominational level and suspicions of managing right-wing YouTubers.