“Lee Jae Myung took the GED at a juvenile detention center”: Jeon Kwang-hoon referred to prosecutors on suspicion of defamation

[Financial News] Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who made remarks to the effect that President Lee Jae Myung took the GED at a juvenile detention center and had participated in sexual assault in the past, has been referred to the Prosecution Office on suspicion of defamation.
On the 22nd, the Public Crimes Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency referred Pastor Jeon without detention to the Seoul Central District Prosecution Office on suspicion of defamation by stating false information under the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.
Pastor Jeon is accused of claiming on his YouTube channel “Jeon Kwang-hoon TV” on July 5 last year, while citing remarks by former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice Morse Tan, that President Lee had committed sexual assault with several people near Andong Dam in Gyeongsangbuk-do in the past. He also said at the time that President Lee had been to a juvenile detention center, had not graduated from regular middle or high school, and had taken the GED.
At a Sunday service at Sarang Jeil Church on May 10 this year, he also said, “Lee Jae Myung didn’t even graduate from middle school or high school, and took the GED at a juvenile detention center—so how did he transfer to Chung-Ang University?”
The investigation into the May remarks began after a complaint by the Peace Tree Christian Recovery Center, and police also separately learned of the remarks from July last year and investigated them together.
In a police interview last August, Pastor Jeon explained that he had mistakenly said “juvenile detention center” instead of “boy laborer.” He denied the charges, saying his remarks about sexual assault were quoting claims made by former Ambassador Morse Tan.
Police deemed the remarks false, citing, among other things, the fact that President Lee had no record of being referred to juvenile court. They also found that intent and a purpose to disparage had been established, since the facts could have been checked using publicly available materials but he spoke without independently verifying them.
Meanwhile, Pastor Jeon is standing trial on charges of inciting the riot at the Seoul Western District Court, with sentencing scheduled for January 13 next year.

[email protected] Choi Seung-han Reporter