"Encouraging Violence with Harsh Words" Protestant Community Demands Defrocking and Expulsion of Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon

Protestant Groups Condemn Jeon Gwang-hoon
Demand Repentance and Excommunication for Inciting Court Unrest

Some Protestant groups recently criticized Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church in connection with the disturbance incident at the Seoul Western District Court.

The Presbyterian Church of Korea issued a statement on the 20th titled "Jeon Gwang-hoon, the mastermind behind the court disturbance, must repent," criticizing, "Jeon Gwang-hoon, who calls himself a pastor, is inciting people based on fake news, obstructing the judiciary's law enforcement, publicly calling for riots, and acting as the mastermind behind the unrest and disturbances, bringing shame to Korean Christianity."

They added, "Jeon Gwang-hoon is a key figure in inciting rebellion that undermines democratic rule of law," and demanded, "Jeon Gwang-hoon, who destroys the legal order that is the foundation of democracy, must repent before the people and Korean Christianity and take responsibility for the judicial disturbance."

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon. Photo by Yonhap News

The Church Reform Practice Solidarity also issued a statement on the same day demanding, "The Korean church must immediately excommunicate and expel Jeon Gwang-hoon, who leads extralegal violent incidents." The group criticized, "Violent acts and those that encourage them must never be tolerated," adding, "This is an anti-faith behavior that cannot be accepted within the Christian faith that pursues justice and peace."

They further stated, "Pastor Jeon's baseless abusive remarks incited violence and provoked conservative supporters," and demanded, "The Korean church must immediately excommunicate and expel Jeon Gwang-hoon."

Meanwhile, Pastor Jeon, during a worship service held on the 19th in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, mentioned the situation of President Yoon being detained, claiming, "The people's right to resist has already been activated, and the people's right to resist is above the constitution. Because the people's right to resist has been activated, we can take President Yoon out of the detention center." In response, some civic groups, including the Citizens' Action for Judicial Justice, reported Pastor Jeon to the police on charges of inciting rebellion, accusing him of encouraging radical actions by President Yoon's supporters.