Pastor Jeon Kwanghoon, Suspected Mastermind Behind Western District Court Riot, Transferred to Prosecutors in Custody

Jeon Kwanghoon, pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, who was identified as the mastermind behind the riot at the Seoul Western District Court in January last year, has been handed over to prosecutors while in custody.

Yonhap News Agency

The Security Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced on January 22 that Pastor Jeon has been transferred under arrest on charges including incitement to trespass on special buildings.

Pastor Jeon is accused of encouraging his supporters to break into the Western District Court, destroy property, and assault police officers in the early hours of January 19 last year, immediately after the news of former President Yoon Sukyeol's arrest was reported.

The police determined that Pastor Jeon psychologically manipulated (gaslighted) his supporters by leveraging his religious influence, and incited violent protests by financially supporting his close associates and conservative YouTubers.

Previously, on January 13, the court issued an arrest warrant for Pastor Jeon, citing concerns about evidence destruction and flight risk. On the following day, January 14, Pastor Jeon's legal team requested a review of the legality of his detention, but the court dismissed the request, stating that the necessity of investigating him in custody was recognized.