Pastor Jun Kwang-hun of Sarang Jeil Church, who was arrested on suspicion of being behind the disturbance at the Seoul Western District Court, argued that his detention was unjustified, but the court rejected the claim.
The Criminal Agreement Division 11 of the Seoul Western District Court (presiding judge Choi Jeong-in) on the 15th dismissed the detention validity review that Jun requested. Jun was arrested on the 13th on charges of inciting trespass into a special building and applied for a detention validity review the next day.
Jun is suspected of invoking religious faith to exercise psychological control (gaslighting), funding aides and conservative YouTubers, and inciting the disturbance at the Western District Court on Jan. 19 last year by supporters of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. The court issued a warrant for Jun's detention, saying there was a risk of destroying evidence and fleeing.
Sarang Jeil Church said it had "deep regret" over the decision to dismiss the detention validity review. Sarang Jeil Church said, "This decision amounted to a formal review premised on the prior determination, rather than newly assessing the need for detention," and added, "We will prove innocence to the end through all lawful procedures."