Love First Church Congregants Who Threw Molotov Cocktails to Block Eviction Receive Reduced Sentences in Appeal Trial

Followers who were indicted for obstructing the enforcement of eviction at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul in 2020, carrying Molotov cocktails and metal pipes, and were sentenced to prison in the first trial, mostly received reduced sentences in the appeal trial.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Seoul Northern District Court Criminal Appeal Division 1-2 (Chief Judge Kim Hyung-seok) overturned the original verdicts for 17 out of 18 Sarang Jeil Church followers indicted for obstruction of special official duties on the 23rd.

Except for Park (57), who continued to deny the charges and was sentenced to 4 years in prison, the other 17 defendants received reduced sentences or were acquitted compared to the first trial.

Park (28) and Jeon (33), who were sentenced to 3 years in prison in the first trial, were sentenced to 2 years; Han (56) and Lee (54), who were sentenced to 4 years and 2 years respectively, were reduced to 1 year and 6 months and 2 years; and two others including Jung (56), who was sentenced to 2 years, were reduced to 1 year and 2 months.

Ten people including Lee (47) were given suspended prison sentences. Kim (71), who was sentenced to 8 months in prison in the first trial, was acquitted with the court stating, “Based solely on the evidence submitted by the prosecution, it cannot be reasonably proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the person holding the metal pipe in the video is the same as the defendant.”

The court took into consideration favorable factors such as the Sarang Jeil Church’s payment of settlement money to the victims, some auxiliary enforcers throwing stones and fire extinguishers against the Sarang Jeil Church followers during the incident and apparently facing criminal trials themselves, and multiple petitions submitted by family and acquaintances.

The court stated, “Although most of the defendants are religious figures such as pastors and evangelists who are believed to spiritually and mentally lead our social community, they engaged in a battle resembling a war, wielding Molotov cocktails, flame throwers, and metal pipes, and assaulted the victims. This goes against religious teachings and causes a loss of respect and trust in pastors, inflicting significant wounds on our society.”