Jang Donghyuk Visits Busan: "Such Things in Korea in 2025... Pastor Son Hyunbo's Detention Is Religious Persecution"

"Lee Jaemyung and Jung Cheongrae's Perception of the Judiciary Remains at the Level of North Korea or China"

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, visited Segyero Church in Busan on the 14th, where Pastor Son Hyunbo, who was recently detained, serves as the head pastor. He stated, "(Pastor Son's detention) is, above all else, an issue of religious persecution."

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is answering questions from the press before attending a worship service at Segyero Church in Gangseo-gu, Busan on the morning of the 14th. The leadership of the People Power Party attended the worship service at Segyero Church, where Pastor Son Hyunbo, recently detained, serves as the head pastor, as their first visit to Busan that day. Photo by Yonhap News

Jang attended the worship service at Segyero Church in Gangseo District, Busan, and remarked, "I never imagined that my calling in 2025 would be to prevent religious persecution in the Republic of Korea."

Pastor Son led the Protestant organization "Save Korea" and was a key figure in organizing rallies opposing the impeachment of former President Yoon Sukyeol. He was recently detained by the police.

Before attending the service, Jang spoke with reporters and said, "If you look at the details of this case, there has never been a precedent in the history of the Korean Constitution of detaining a religious leader on such charges."

He continued, "This is a violation of human rights. This is an issue against civilization. This is an issue against the rule of law. This is an issue against liberal democracy," adding, "There is no room for other considerations here. This is simply religious persecution occurring in a liberal democratic Republic of Korea."

People Power Party leader Jang Donghyuk attended a worship service at Segyero Church in Gangseo District, Busan, on the morning of the 14th and responded to questions from reporters. The leadership of the People Power Party attended the worship service at Segyero Church, where Pastor Son Hyunbo, who was recently detained, serves as the head pastor, as their first visit schedule to Busan that day. Pastor Son led the protest against the impeachment of former President Yoon Sukyeol while leading 'Save Korea,' a Protestant organization. Yonhap News

He further stated, "The detention of Pastor Son is not just a problem for Christianity. It is an issue for all religions," and emphasized, "Pastor Son's detention is not about him as an individual. It is oppression against all people of faith."

Regarding his reason for attending the worship service, he explained, "The Republic of Korea is regressing into an uncivilized state," and added, "I attended the service to cry out to the righteous God who judges justly, together with the faithful believers of the global church who share the same calling."

Jang also raised strong criticism against the judicial reform being pushed by the Democratic Party of Korea. Referring to the earlier remarks by Democratic Party leader Jung Cheongrae, who said, 'Judicial reform was brought upon by the judiciary itself,' Jang criticized, "The perception of the judiciary held by President Lee Jaemyung and leader Jung Cheongrae remains at the level of North Korea or China."

He went on to say, "If the current reform of the judiciary is truly self-inflicted, then the judiciary will soon have to make an extraordinary decision," and added, "The situation has come to this point because the judiciary itself surrendered before power."

Meanwhile, after the worship service, Jang is scheduled to visit the site of the new Gadeok International Airport, pay respects at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, and attend a meeting with young people in Busan.