Pastor Son Hyun-bo discloses July meeting with Trump, US officials
Summary
Pastor Son Hyun-bo disclosed that he met U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 7 local time. Segyero Church said Son was visiting the United States with his family, but it did not disclose what he discussed with Trump. Son has also been meeting U.S. officials over religious issues in Korea, including proposed bills on dissolving religious organizations and anti-discrimination.
Key Facts
- Segyero Church said Son met Trump at the White House on July 7 local time while visiting the United States with his family.
- Son said in a video on the church's YouTube channel that he had been visiting the United States for a month and had just visited the White House and met Trump.
- The church said Son has raised concerns with U.S. government officials about a proposed bill that would allow the dissolution of religious organizations and a comprehensive anti-discrimination bill.
- In June, U.S. officials Riley Band, Julie Turner, and Belsis Romero visited Busan and met with Son.
- Son was arrested and indicted last year on charges of illegal election campaigning, and he later received a six-month prison sentence suspended for one year.
Segyero Church head pastor known to be hard-line supporter of impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol
Pastor Son Hyun-bo, third from left, head pastor of Segyero Church, and his family members poses with U.S. President Donald Trump during a visit to the White House in Washington, D.C., July 7. From left are Jennie Korn, director of the White House Faith Office; Son's wife Lee Young-rye, Son, Trump, Pastor Rob McCoy; Son Chan-song, Son's second son; Son Young-gwang, Son's eldest son; and Paula White-Cain, senior adviser to the White House Faith Office. Courtesy of Segyero Church
Pastor Son Hyun-bo, head pastor of Segyero Church who led rallies opposing the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 7 (local time), the church disclosed on Saturday.
According to Segyero Church, Son met with Trump at the White House while visiting the United States with his family. The church did not disclose details of the conversation between Son and Trump.
In a video posted on the church's YouTube channel the same day, Son said, "I have been visiting the United States for a month ... and I just visited the White House and met with President Trump."
"I sincerely thank the White House for inviting my family," he added.
Son has been meeting with U.S. government officials to raise concerns over religious issues in Korea, including a proposed legislation that would allow the dissolution of religious organizations and a comprehensive anti-discrimination bill.
In June, U.S. government officials, including Riley Band, deputy assistant secretary at the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL); Julie Turner, acting principal deputy assistant secretary at the DRL; and Belsis Romero, a liaison officer with the White House Faith Office, visited Busan and met with Son. Son also met with Michael Needham, an adviser to the U.S. State Department, in February.
Son is also the leader of Save Korea, a Protestant group that organized rallies opposing Yoon's impeachement. Last year, Son was arrested and indicted on charges of engaging in illegal election campaigning. Earlier this year, he was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for one year.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
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