"Strong Opposition to Forced Eviction" Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon’s Sarang Jeil Church, Congregants React Fiercely

Scheduled Demolition of Sarang Jeil Church on the 5th
Suspended Due to Concerns Over Congregant Clashes

At 10 a.m. on the 5th, a banner opposing the forced demolition of the church was hung on a road near Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Min Jun-young, intern reporter mjy7051@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, Intern Reporters Lim Joo-hyung and Min Jun-young] "The court said it would back down," "We won."

On the 5th, the forced demolition execution of Sarang Jeil Church, pastored by Jeon Gwang-hoon in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, was postponed due to concerns over clashes with church members. While the congregants expressed relief, they also showed considerable vigilance against the possibility of another sudden demolition execution.

They stayed up practically all night from 11 p.m. the previous day until the morning of the 5th, engaging in an overnight standoff against the demolition execution personnel from the Jangwi 10 District Redevelopment Association and the court. At the alley leading to the church entrance, a forklift was placed to physically block the entry of the demolition personnel.

By around 11 a.m., most of the congregants had returned home, but some remained at the church, maintaining vigilance against any possible demolition execution. Some stood in front of the church's main gate, even blocking the press from entering.

On the road in front of the church, vehicles such as a darkened LED truck and a van were lined up, and banners opposing the forced demolition of the church were hung both in front of and behind the road.

Around 10:30 a.m. that day, the front gate of Sarang Jeil Church. / Photo by Min Junyoung, intern reporter mjy7051@asiae.co.kr

Congregant A (64), who was leaving for home after the gathering, emphasized, "The court said it would back down. It ended well, didn't it?"

Earlier, the Jangwi 10 District Redevelopment Association had planned to carry out the forced demolition of Sarang Jeil Church starting at 7:30 a.m. that day.

However, on the previous day (the 4th), Pastor Jeon’s side requested through YouTube broadcasts and text messages that "to prevent forced demolition, an overnight prayer meeting would be held from that night, so everyone should gather at the church." Responding to this, hundreds of congregants gathered at the church and held an all-night assembly. Concerned about potential clashes between the church and the association, the court ultimately postponed the demolition work.

Congregant B, in their 60s, who said they were not a member of the church but participated in the gathering, said, "I don't really know the details about the demolition order," but added, "I came to worship because the church was going to be gone."

Another congregant, C, expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "Are you here to report? I will not respond to the press," and added, "Reporters come and make false reports, so I can't say anything."

A banner hung on a vacant building near Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu. / Photo by Min Junyoung, intern reporter mjy7051@asiae.co.kr

On the 27th of last month, the 11th Civil Division of the Seoul Northern District Court (Chief Judge Kim Kwang-seop) ruled in favor of the plaintiff in an eviction lawsuit filed by the association against Sarang Jeil Church, allowing the association to proceed with the forced demolition of the church.

An eviction lawsuit is a legal action by a property owner to request the occupant to vacate the premises.

Sarang Jeil Church demanded 56.3 billion KRW as demolition compensation. The church cited reasons including a 11 billion KRW loss due to decreased congregants and financial damages, and 35.8 billion KRW for construction costs to build a new church building six times larger than the existing one.

On the other hand, the compensation amount appraised by the Seoul Land Expropriation Committee was about 8.2 billion KRW, approximately 14% of the amount proposed by the church.

The Jangwi New Town 10 District in Jangwi-dong, Seongbuk-gu, where Sarang Jeil Church is located, was designated as a redevelopment zone, and residents began relocating since 2018. The current relocation rate is over 97%, with most residents having already left the area except for the church.

Meanwhile, when met near the church on the day, Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon avoided directly answering questions about future plans following the failed forced demolition, saying, "That is not something I should comment on."