Three former Shincheonji officials accused of collectively registering congregants as members of the People Power Party have been arrested.
On the 17th, Presiding Judge Boodong-sik of the Seoul Central District Court in charge of warrants held a pre-arrest suspect examination and issued arrest warrants for former Shincheonji general affairs chief Ko Dong-an and former general affairs chiefs of the John tribe and the Simon tribe, saying there were concerns about destruction of evidence and flight.
Earlier, on the 12th, the joint investigation headquarters requested arrest warrants for Ko and others on charges including violating the Political Parties Act. Ko and others are accused of forcing congregants to join the People Power Party as members from 2021 to 2024 to influence the party's presidential and general election primaries. Article 42 of the Political Parties Act stipulates that no one may be forced to join or leave a political party.
The joint investigation headquarters believes Shincheonji encouraged congregants to join the People Power Party under names such as the "Pilates Project" by tribe, and that, as a result, more than 50,000 congregants joined the People Power Party as members. It also listed obstruction of business in the warrant application, saying the organized membership drive interfered with the People Power Party's election operations.
With the former officials now in custody, the investigation into Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee is expected to accelerate. The joint investigation headquarters secured testimony to the effect that the order to join the party was conveyed from Lee to the general affairs chief, then to each tribe leader, church pastor, and through the adult, women's, and youth associations.