Pastor Jeon Gwang-hun of Sarang Jeil Church, suspected of being behind the violent rampage at the Seoul Western District Court, appeared for police questioning on the 18th.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Security Investigation Division summoned Jeon in the morning as a suspect on charges including instigating special trespass into a building and special obstruction of the performance of official duties, and is questioning him.
Before appearing, Jeon told reporters, "The Western District Court incident has nothing to do with us," and said, "While carrying out the 'Gwanghwamun movement' for 7–8 years, we kept emphasizing 'do not clash with the police or fight with left-wing groups,' so there was not a single incident." He added, "When a pastor preaches and people are moved by the Bible and receive grace, how is that gaslighting?" and said, "The people who led the rampage were not originally a Gwanghwamun group but kids who go elsewhere and shout."
Regarding suspicions that he was involved in sending deposits for prison expenses to suspects in the Western District Court rampage, he said, "I retired from the pastorate five years ago, so how would I know the church's finances or prison deposits?" and added, "A retired pastor is 'gaeteol'." He also rebutted allegations regarding the two "special mission evangelists" who took part in the rampage, saying, "They are not formal church members. When we occasionally met, we only exchanged greetings."
That day, Jeon also claimed there was a "political force behind" the investigation targeting him, saying, "There is reasonable suspicion that it may have been directed by the Office of the Senior Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs," and, "The police lay down even before the wind blew. The Republic of Korea is ruined."
Jeon is suspected of touting religious devotion to exert psychological control (gaslighting) and funding close associates and conservative YouTubers to incite the rampage at the Western District Court by demonstrators on Jan. 19.
On Jan. in the Seoul Western District Court, after a detention warrant was issued for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, there was a violent protest, and police have been investigating Jeon as being behind it. In August, police searched and seized Jeon's residence, Sarang Jeil Church, and the offices and residences of six conservative YouTubers, and in September they additionally searched the office of Jeon's daughter and Senior Pastor Lee Young-han of Sarang Jeil Church.