[Comprehensive] "Jeollado People, Wake Up" Jeon Gwang-hoon Holds Sermon Event Without Mask in Jeonju

'3·1절 National Rally' Nationwide Tour Event
"Jeollado Development Was Done by Right-Wing Government" Claim
"Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in Must Be Abandoned"

As part of the nationwide tour event for the March 1st Movement National Rally, Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church visited a church in Jeonju, Jeonbuk on the morning of the 19th and delivered a sermon. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church held a preaching event at a church in Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do on the 19th. During the event, which was live-streamed on his YouTube channel, Pastor Jeon criticized the Moon Jae-in administration, claiming that "right-wing governments developed Jeolla Province."

The preaching event, held under the theme "Jeollabuk-do, Rise Up," reportedly had 20 to 30 participants, including organizers and church officials.

In particular, the organizers locked the church doors before the event to prevent outsiders from entering, reportedly blocking access to Jeonju city officials, police, and reporters who came to check compliance with quarantine rules.

Pastor Jeon's sermon was broadcast live on YouTube. He was seen on camera without wearing a mask.

During the sermon, Pastor Jeon held the microphone and said, "Did left-wing governments develop all of Jeolla Province?" He added, "People of Jeolla need to wake up. (The development of Jeolla) was all done by right-wing governments."

He further stated, "Projects like Saemangeum and island bridge construction were all carried out when former President Park Geun-hye was the opposition party leader."

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church / Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding the reason for holding the preaching event in Jeonju, he emphasized, "Jeolla Province has not yet returned," adding, "Even Gangwon Province has returned, but Jeolla, the main body of the founding of the Republic of Korea, has not returned."

He urged, "We must quickly abandon Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in."

Pastor Jeon also strongly criticized President Moon Jae-in's remarks during his online and offline New Year's press conference held at the Blue House Chuncheon Hall on the 18th.

He claimed, "Strange things are happening in South Korea right now," and "Led by Moon Jae-in, the entire country is struggling to turn into socialism and communism, and the people have finally realized this."

He added, "To stop this, we pray come rain or snow and appeal before God."

Pastor Jeon held this preaching event in Jeonju as part of a nationwide tour for the "March 1st National Rally." His current activities involve touring churches nationwide, including Jeonju and Daejeon, to organize a group of 10 million people. He plans to continue the tour in Daejeon the following day (the 20th).

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who tested positive for COVID-19, is seen leaving the Sarang Jeil Church parsonage in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of August 17 last year and boarding a Seongbuk Public Health Center vehicle. / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, Pastor Jeon sparked controversy last year when he visited and spoke at the "August 15th Liberation Day Moon Jae-in Government Condemnation Rally," led by conservative groups. At that time, Sarang Jeil Church was experiencing a COVID-19 cluster infection.

During his speech, Pastor Jeon mentioned, "The district office came to our church and notified me that I was designated for quarantine," adding, "I am perfectly fine and have no fever," which raised suspicions that he violated self-quarantine rules.

Subsequently, Pastor Jeon tested positive for COVID-19. Two days after the rally, on the 17th of the same month, he was transferred to the Seoul Medical Center in Jungnang-gu, a dedicated COVID-19 hospital, where he was admitted to a negative pressure isolation ward and treated before being discharged after about two weeks.