'Five-Year Prison Term Sought': Twist in Jeon Kwang-hoon Trial as Proceedings Reopened at Prosecution's Request

[Financial News] The trial of Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who faces a five-year prison term sought over allegations that he incited the disorder at the Seoul Western District Court, will resume. The proceedings are said to have been reopened to review evidentiary video footage that could not be played at the previous final hearing.
Legal sources said on the 8th that the Seoul Western District Court's Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Park Ji-won) will hold the seventh hearing on the 11th on charges against Pastor Jeon, including inciting trespass into a special-purpose building and obstruction of special official duties.
At the sixth hearing on the 21st of last month, the court concluded arguments after the prosecution sought a five-year prison term and the defense delivered its closing arguments. The prosecution then requested on the 27th of the same month that proceedings be reopened, and the court granted the request. At the additional hearing, the court is expected to review, at its request, evidentiary video footage that could not be played at the previous hearing.
Pastor Jeon is accused of inciting supporters to storm the Seoul Western District Court, damage property and assault police officers shortly after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was taken into custody in January last year. He is also accused of moving Gwanghwamun rally participants to the area near the court and having them occupy the road.
At the sixth hearing, the prosecution said Pastor Jeon had encouraged protesters to enter the court by invoking the “right of popular resistance” and arguing, among other things, that former President Yoon should be taken out of the detention center. Kim Hak-seong, a former professor at Kangwon National University (KNU) who appeared as a witness, testified regarding the remark that Yoon should be taken out of the detention center: “I do not think it amounted to instigating a crime,” adding, “There is some room for misunderstanding.” The pastor's side, meanwhile, denied the charges, saying that five of the seven people identified as participants in the disorder had never even met Pastor Jeon and that he had not directly ordered the acts.
Pastor Jeon has repeatedly complained of worsening health during the trial. Each time he appeared in court, he needed help from people around him to get around, and seemed to have difficulty stepping over even a small threshold. In his closing statement at the sixth hearing, he said he had even written a will before being taken into custody.
Last April, the court granted Pastor Jeon bail, citing his health condition, including urological problems related to diabetes, the low risk that he would flee, and the need to protect his right to mount a defense. However, he continued his rally activities after his release and made political remarks on an online broadcast this weekend as well. The prosecution had earlier criticized him, saying, “He shows no signs of remorse, preaching even during the trial that his actions were justified.”
A separate investigation is also underway. The Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Unit is investigating suspicions that Sarang Jeil Church provided approximately 10.2 billion won to the Liberty Unification Party in the form of a loan, constituting an illegal political contribution. Six people, including Pastor Jeon, have been reported for alleged violations of the Political Funds Act and occupational breach of trust and embezzlement. After conducting a search and seizure in June, police questioned Pastor Jeon as a suspect in September.
The Public Crimes Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Metropolitan Investigation Unit also referred Pastor Jeon to the Seoul Central District Prosecution Office without detaining him on the 22nd of last month on suspicion of defaming President Lee Jae Myung by spreading false information about him.
[email protected] Choi Seung-han Reporter