Pastor Jun Kwanghoon to Face Detention Review on January 13 Over Alleged Mastermind Role in Western District Court Riot

The decision on whether to detain Pastor Jun Kwanghoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who has been identified as the mastermind behind the riot at the Seoul Western District Court and for whom an arrest warrant has been requested, is expected as early as January 13.

Yonhap News Agency

The Seoul Western District Court announced on January 9 that it will hold a pre-arrest interrogation (warrant review) for Pastor Jun at 10:30 a.m. on January 13.

Pastor Jun will undergo a detention review at the Western District Court, the site of the riot, nearly one year after the incident occurred.

Previously, the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office requested an arrest warrant for Pastor Jun the previous day on charges including aggravated trespassing and incitement to obstruct official duties.

Pastor Jun is accused of using religious devotion to exert psychological control (gaslighting) and providing financial support to his associates and conservative YouTubers, thereby inciting the intrusion of protesters into the Western District Court in January last year.

The police also applied for an arrest warrant for Shin Hyesik, CEO of the YouTube channel "Shinui Hansu," on similar charges, but the request was rejected at the prosecution stage.