Evangelist at Jeon Kwanghoon's Church Who Led Court Violence... Vandalized Jeong Yulseong Bust Two Years Ago

Referred Without Detention Twice, Fined by the Court

After President Yoon Seokyeol was arrested on charges of leading an insurrection, some supporters broke into the Seoul Western District Court, causing an illegal violent incident. On the morning of the 20th, one day after the event, the damage at the Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul, remains visible. Photo by Jo Yongjun

A missionary affiliated with Sarang Jeil Church, led by Pastor Jun Kwanghoon and known for orchestrating the recent intrusion and violence at the Seoul Western District Court, was previously convicted for vandalizing the bust of Jeong Yulseong.

According to Gwangju Nambu Police Station on the 3rd, Yoon (58), a special missionary at Sarang Jeil Church, was referred to the prosecution without detention in October 2023 on charges of tying a rope to the bust of Jeong Yulseong on Jeong Yulseong Street in Yangnim-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju, and pulling it down with a 2.5-ton van.

At the time, an unidentified individual placed the bust, which had been separated from its pedestal and fallen to the ground, back onto the pedestal as a restoration measure. However, while being questioned by police, Yoon dropped the bust to the ground again and was once again referred to the prosecution on the same charge. For these two incidents, he was referred without detention in October and November 2023 and received a fine from the Gwangju District Court.

Composer Jeong Yulseong was born in Gwangju and participated in the anti-Japanese movement in China during the Japanese colonial era. After Korea's liberation in 1945, he was active in North Korea, composing the March of the Korean People's Army, and later naturalized in China in 1956. These facts have sparked ideological controversy, leading to debate over the 'Jeong Yulseong Memorial Project.'

After damaging the bust, Yoon claimed in an interview with some media outlets, "I thought Kang Gijung, the mayor of Gwangju, would push ahead with the Jeong Yulseong Memorial Project because he is a hardcore pro-North Korea activist," and added, "I decided to topple the statue, a symbol of controversy, and carried out the act alone." The bust he damaged has not yet been restored.

Yoon reappeared on the 19th of last month, inciting the intrusion during the court riot. Video footage captured him shouting, "If you support Yoon Sukyeol, fight with us," and "If things continue like this, President Yoon Sukyeol will die soon. They will kill him and claim it was suicide."

Police are focusing their investigation not only on those who directly participated in the court riot but also on those behind the scenes. The Security Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has formed a 'Jun Kwanghoon Task Force' and is investigating Pastor Jun Kwanghoon and related individuals who have been accused of inciting insurrection.