Sarangjeil Church, "We Will Sue Police and Media" Over Reports of 'Rally Encouragement Texts'
Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, head pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, who is being re-incarcerated due to bond cancellation, is speaking to the press in front of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu on the afternoon of the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] It has been confirmed that text messages encouraging attendance at the Gwanghwamun rally in Seoul last month were sent from the Sarang Jeil Church side. The church repeatedly denied any connection with the Korea Straightening National Movement Headquarters (Daegukbon), which led the protest.
According to MBC on the 16th, the text messages encouraging attendance at the Gwanghwamun rally, sent to 1.26 million people, were investigated to have been sent through an account belonging to Sarang Jeil Church.
According to the report, the text messages sent three hours before the rally started on the 15th of last month via a mass texting system included the message that the "8.15 rally is legal" along with a URL link connecting to Daegukbon's internet cafe. Previously, a text sent on July 8 was found to have included a link connected to a post by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church.
The Sarang Jeil Church side is also reported to have used the same account to send texts to believers and provide guidance on COVID-19 testing.
Currently, Daegukbon's office is known to be located inside Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. Sarang Jeil Church has claimed that the building subject to an eviction lawsuit with the redevelopment association is used not only by the church but also by organizations such as the Christian Liberty Party and Daegukbon.
Additionally, a full-page advertisement for the 8.15 rally published in a daily newspaper earlier last month reportedly listed Daegukbon as the organizer, former lawmaker Kim Kyung-jae as the chairman, and Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon as the advisor. However, on the day of the rally, former lawmaker Kim stated, "Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon instructed me to read this (the declaration)."
Previously, Pastor Jeon also appeared in several interviews stating, "I planned the 8.15 rally this time," and "We are receiving an enormous number of new member registrations. Our 15 church staff who answer the phones cannot handle it," among other remarks.
The police, considering these points collectively, view Sarang Jeil Church as effectively leading the 8.15 rally.
Meanwhile, on the 16th, the legal team of Sarang Jeil Church issued a statement denying the claims, saying, "We clearly state that the rally participation texts were not sent 'in the church's name or from the church's number.'"
The legal team added, "Although the text messages indicate who sent them, the media is acting as an accomplice to the police investigation by omitting this and using the expression '(church) side.' Regarding the sender number, the church is not the subject of that information and cannot comment. It is a number used by one of the many civic groups participating in the '8.15 Impeachment of Moon Jae-in National Rally.'"
They further stated, "The police, who recklessly leaked facts known only to them to a specific media outlet, will be reported as accomplices along with the media for disclosing suspect information and official secrets. We will also immediately file criminal complaints against any future unilateral leaks of investigation information," they added.
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