Police raid activist pastor's church over courthouse riot
Jeon Kwang-hoon, pastor at Sarang Jeil Church, attends his sentencing for charges related to violating the Public Official Election Act, May 29. Korea Times photo by Choi Ju-yeon
Police on Tuesday raided Sarang Jeil Church, led by conservative activist pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, and other facilities related to him on suspicion of being involved in a January courthouse riot related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said it was conducting a search and seizure operation for Jeon and Sarang Jeil Church in the northern Seoul district of Seongbuk from early Tuesday morning on charges of instigating trespassing on special structures.
Police suspect that Jeon is behind pro-Yoon protesters' violent riot at the Seoul Western District Court on Jan. 19 this year. A total of 63 people have been indicted in connection with the riot, which was prompted by the court's decision to extend Yoon's detention over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law.
The police said they have received several complaints alleging that Jeon incited pro-Yoon rally participants to cause a violent riot at the courthouse. They have also analyzed Jeon's statements at various pro-Yoon rallies and questioned the riot suspects, including a church official who was recently sentenced by a court to 3.5 years in prison.