Sarang Jeil Church Worship Services Move Indoors Without Jeon Kwanghoon Starting This Week

Sarang Jeil Church, led by Pastor Jeon Kwanghoon, who has been detained on charges of orchestrating a riot, will change its weekly outdoor worship services held on weekends to indoor services.

Pastor Jeon Kwanghoon of Sarang Jeil Church is attending the detention review hearing at the Seoul Western District Court. Photo by Yonhap News

According to Sarang Jeil Church on January 22, the church plans to hold its nationwide Sunday joint worship service inside the church starting this Sunday, January 25, instead of on the road in front of Dongwha Duty Free Shop in Gwanghwamun, where it has been held every Sunday. However, since 5,000 to 6,000 people participate in the service each week, those who cannot enter the building will worship on the sidewalk in front of Dongwha Duty Free Shop.

This is the first time since August of last year, when police launched a compulsory investigation into Pastor Jeon, that the church will hold indoor services. Pastor Jeon was detained on January 13 on charges including incitement to trespass on special structures in connection with the riot at the Seoul Western District Court.

The police recommended that the church hold services indoors or on the sidewalk during the winter, after an incident on January 4 in which a man in his 80s died during the joint worship service.

Meanwhile, the Gwanghwamun National Rally, which is held at the same location every Saturday, will continue as usual.