The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Korea to ease entry rules to boost tourism, domestic spending

  • 3

    IU says she was excited to share screen with Park Seo-joon in 'Dream'

  • 5

    INTERVIEWCan art become stable investment source?

  • 7

    Will dismantling oligopoly result in successful bank industry reform?

  • 9

    Terraform Labs co-founder's extradition could be delayed more than 1 month

  • 11

    Fintech, lifestyle products can help Korea grow trade ties with Hong Kong: city's trade promotion chief in Korea

  • 13

    Top envoy to US tapped as new national security advisor

  • 15

    Ex-journalist to lead NK defector support foundation

  • 17

    Korean players faced with uncertainty in new MLB season

  • 19

    Korea-Japan relations experts call for joint research to co-write history textbooks

  • 2

    From IVE to NCT DOJAEJUNG, K-pop hotshots brace for April chart race

  • 4

    Korea moves to shorten COVID-19 isolation period to 5 days

  • 6

    Generation Z entrepreneurs turn oyster shells into trendy dish soap

  • 8

    Apple to open 5th retail store in Korea this week

  • 10

    Celltrion chairman vows to develop new drugs, initiate M&As

  • 12

    INTERVIEWForeign-born entertainers seek to revolutionize local industry

  • 14

    Advancing biological weapons convention (BWC): the Philippine role

  • 16

    LX Hausys inks strategic alliance with Reynaers for high-end home windows market

  • 18

    Seoul participates in Asia's biggest smart city expo in Taipei

  • 20

    NewJeans, Apple join hands to bring immersive audio experience

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Fri, March 31, 2023 | 03:45
Law & Crime
Crusader or self-deceiver?
Posted : 2020-02-25 17:39
Updated : 2020-02-26 09:12
Park Ji-won
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon waves at supporters waiting for him in front of Seoul Central Court in southern Seoul, Monday, where he was brought in for questioning over his political activities. Yonhap
Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon waves at supporters waiting for him in front of Seoul Central Court in southern Seoul, Monday, where he was brought in for questioning over his political activities. Yonhap

CCK leader under fire for going too far

By Park Ji-won

"There is no one who was infected with the coronavirus while attending the outdoor public gathering."

Rev. Jun Kwang-hoon, head of the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) and pastor of Sarang Jeil Church in Jangwi-dong, Seoul, said in front of thousands of protestors who gathered in Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul on Sunday, amid fears of the spread of the deadly COVID-19.

"God will treat us and save us from the deadly disease. So please come again next week as we will host another rally here," he said.

The 63-year-old pastor is a self-proclaimed right-wing crusader. But his controversial remarks and "overconfidence" regarding potential health risks have pitted him against other right-wingers.

Criticism came from all over the political spectrum after he pushed for the public gathering despite the nationwide spread of the deadly coronavirus that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan. As of Tuesday morning, the epidemic has killed eight people, and over 800 Koreans have been infected with the deadly virus.

The controversial rally in central Seoul, however, won't be held this week because Jun, the initiator of the anti-Moon Jae-in protests, was detained Monday night after the Seoul Central Court issued an arrest warrant for the pastor. He is accused of having violated the election law that prohibits pre-election campaigning in favor of certain political parties or candidates.

Noting that Rev. Jun's voting right was suspended for five years for his previous violation of the election law, the court said the pastor tried to exert influence on the public to vote for a certain party. The court issued an arrest warrant, saying otherwise he may flee.

The outspoken pastor showed up at the court without wearing a face mask.

He is an outspoken critic of President Moon.

Gov't to conduct coronavirus tests on all Shincheonji followers
Gov't to conduct coronavirus tests on all Shincheonji followers
2020-02-25 15:41  |  Health & Science
Government urged to curb Shincheonji activities
Government urged to curb Shincheonji activities
2020-02-25 17:46  |  Health & Science

"As far as I know about Moon Jae-in, he intends to destroy South Korea in order to help North Korea's Kim Jung-un easily take it over," he told the reporters who were waiting in front of the court on Monday. "For this reason, I have been fighting against him and my resistance will continue."

Jun urged the public to gather under the leadership of the main opposition United Future Party (UFP) Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn and vote for the party in the April election.

"All conservatives must be united under Hwang's leadership. We have to do so, even if (our public gathering) leads us to contract the deadly disease," he said.

Jun has organized the anti-Moon Jae-in rallies since last year, demanding the President step down to take responsibility for the alleged "mismanagement" of the nation.

His controversial comments have landed him in trouble several times.

Last year, Jun urged the public to join a campaign to impeach President Moon.

"Impeaching Moon is what God has ordered us to do," he said during a conference to discuss the future of the nation at the Press Center in Seoul in June. The CCK head went on to call Moon a North Korean sympathizer.

Other CCK members protested his controversial remarks. They claimed Jun didn't represent the Protestant group, although he still holds the leadership position.

In June last year, he spent much of his time in sermon criticizing President Moon and rallying support from conservative churchgoers.

Some Christian groups and the Seoul Election Commission took legal action against him for allegedly interfering in the upcoming April elections.

Some Protestants alleged that he is nothing but a politically-motivated pastor, an allegation Jun denied as he portrays himself as a crusader fighting for freedom and democracy.


He came under fire from some conservative Christian groups last year for his Oct. 22 speech at a rally in Seoul. He said at that time "God, please behave. If not, I will punish you."

The Korean Church Association issued a statement accusing Jun of making inappropriate remarks. "We don't know why he said that. But it is clear that he crossed the line and what he said is not forgiven," the statement read. The group went on to say that though pastor Jun has fought for freedom and democracy, the way he speaks and behaves leaves room for different interpretations.



Emailjwpark@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1College students turn to 1,000 won breakfast to beat inflation College students turn to 1,000 won breakfast to beat inflation
2Korean aesthetics, spirit live on at Gyeongbok Palace Korean aesthetics, spirit live on at Gyeongbok Palace
3[INTERVIEW] South Korea needs to make decision on sending lethal aid to Ukraine : CNAS CEO INTERVIEWSouth Korea needs to make decision on sending lethal aid to Ukraine : CNAS CEO
4Children, pregnant women executed, tortured in North Korea: report Children, pregnant women executed, tortured in North Korea: report
5Rare Joseon-era map returns home from Japan Rare Joseon-era map returns home from Japan
6South Korea nominates new ambassador to USSouth Korea nominates new ambassador to US
7French admiral highlights importance of multilateralism in Indo-Pacific region French admiral highlights importance of multilateralism in Indo-Pacific region
8Korea to scrap customs form for travelers without dutiable goods Korea to scrap customs form for travelers without dutiable goods
9Chun Doo-hwan's grandson to visit May 18 National Cemetery Chun Doo-hwan's grandson to visit May 18 National Cemetery
10Japanese top visitors to Korea in 2023 as tourism rebounds Japanese top visitors to Korea in 2023 as tourism rebounds
Top 5 Entertainment News
1From IVE to NCT DOJAEJUNG, K-pop hotshots brace for April chart race From IVE to NCT DOJAEJUNG, K-pop hotshots brace for April chart race
2IU says she was excited to share screen with Park Seo-joon in 'Dream' IU says she was excited to share screen with Park Seo-joon in 'Dream'
3[INTERVIEW] Foreign-born entertainers seek to revolutionize local industry INTERVIEWForeign-born entertainers seek to revolutionize local industry
4NewJeans, Apple join hands to bring immersive audio experience NewJeans, Apple join hands to bring immersive audio experience
5[INTERVIEW] Ahn Jae-hong on playing underdog basketball coach in 'Rebound' INTERVIEWAhn Jae-hong on playing underdog basketball coach in 'Rebound'
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group