President Moon Acquitted of Defamation Charges, Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon Continues Criticism Targeting President Moon
"If President Moon Does Not Apologize, the March 1st Movement Will Be Reenacted"
"All Citizens Will Raise Taegeukgi Flags and Demand an Apology from the President"
Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church held a press conference on the morning of the 31st of last month in front of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, regarding his first trial acquittal and release on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and defamation of the president. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Jeon Gwang-hoon (64), pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, who was acquitted in the first trial after being prosecuted on charges including defamation of President Moon Jae-in and was released on the 30th of last month, has been continuously voicing criticism targeting President Moon.
Pastor Jeon has claimed that if President Moon does not apologize to him, he will hold both online and offline rallies on March 1st, raising concerns that the number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), which has just been around 300, might surge.
Announcing the 'March 1st National Rally,' Pastor Jeon, who is touring the country, held a press conference at Dongdaegu Station Square the day before (21st), wearing a white mask. About 50 people, including reporters, church officials, and passersby, attended the event held from 10:30 a.m. under the theme 'Daegu, Rise Up.'
At this event, Pastor Jeon claimed, "Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha was dismissed under the orders of Kim Yo-jong of North Korea," and "It is also under North Korea's orders that former presidents of the Republic of Korea are in prison." Church officials applauded and shouted "Amen" after each of his remarks.
Regarding why he took off his mask at a church in Jeonju, Jeonbuk Province, on the 19th, he raised his voice, saying, "I have already contracted COVID-19 once, so my blood is full of antibodies," and asked, "I am the best quarantine in the world with antibodies, so why did Moon Jae-in (the president) take off his mask?"
He then fiercely criticized the current administration, claiming, "Crazy Moon Jae-in," "My arrest was ordered by North Korea," "Moon Jae-in said to 'arrest Jeon Gwang-hoon and bury him underground,'" "Moon Jae-in is dead, dead," and "It is also North Korea's order that two former presidents are in prison."
Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act and defamation but was acquitted in the first trial, is seen getting into a vehicle after leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu on the 30th of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Earlier, Pastor Jeon had set an apology from President Moon as a condition for not holding the 'March 1st rally.' He emphasized that if President Moon does not accept this, he will hold an online and offline rally with 10 million participants.
On the 31st of last month, Pastor Jeon held a press conference in front of Sarang Jeil Church and said, "If President Moon does not apologize, we intend to reenact the March 1st Movement of 1919 on the upcoming March 1st."
Pastor Jeon stated, "The arrest of a religious leader is religious persecution and human rights oppression," and added, "We are preparing a national rally with 10 million participants online and offline," asserting, "All citizens will hold Taegeukgi flags in their hands and shout 'Long live the Republic of Korea' for 30 minutes in front of their homes, demanding an apology from the president."
He also said, "How did the country collapse like this?" and "Even though President Moon gives speeches saying the country was not founded on August 15, 1948, if people are busy making a living, I have the courage to risk my life for the people of the Republic of Korea."
On the afternoon of August 15 last year, Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church is speaking at a rally condemning the government and ruling party held in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, Pastor Jeon was prosecuted on charges of defaming President Moon but was acquitted in the first trial and released. Last year on Liberation Day, he was criticized for shaking the quarantine system with the so-called 'Gwanghwamun rally.'
Amid this, Pastor Jeon described his acquittal, saying, "The (not guilty) verdict I received is like the March 1st Independence Declaration," and added, "It sounded like former President Syngman Rhee's 1948 Peace Declaration or, although some may dislike it, like the May 16 military revolution pledge."
He continued, "After hearing the verdict, I thought, 'God has not abandoned the Republic of Korea,'" and claimed, "Now the Republic of Korea has begun to return. After the prosecution, the judiciary has returned, and now the people have begun to return."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
