On the morning of the 4th, Pastor Son Hyun-bo announced the request for an arrest warrant through a YouTube broadcast. Video capture

Son Hyun-bo, the senior pastor of Segyero Church in Busan, is facing arrest for alleged violations of the Public Official Election Act. 

The Busan District Prosecutors' Office requested an arrest warrant for Pastor Son on September 3rd, and the warrant review hearing is scheduled to be held on the 8th at 2 PM in Courtroom 251 of the Busan District Court.

Pastor Son is accused of conducting a dialogue with candidate Jung Seung-yoon during a church service ahead of the Busan Superintendent of Education by-election in March, and then releasing it on his YouTube channel. The Busan Election Commission filed a complaint with the police, stating that this act constituted pre-election campaigning. After searching and seizing Pastor Son's office and mobile phone in May, the police applied for an arrest warrant from the prosecution on the 28th of last month.

Furthermore, Pastor Son is also accused of holding a fasting prayer meeting to support a specific candidate during the presidential election process. The Public Official Election Act prohibits religious and educational organizations from engaging in election campaigning using their official authority to influence their members.

Pastor Son strongly refuted the prosecution's request for an arrest warrant. In a phone call with this newspaper, he stated, "I merely confirmed the political stances of the politicians; I never solicited support for a specific candidate," and argued, "It is totalitarian thinking to search my church and seize my mobile phone when I never told anyone who to vote for."

He continued, "There have been over 30 impeachment proceedings, and I repeatedly warned at rallies opposing impeachment that we were heading towards a totalitarian state," adding, "Yet, this result (Lee Jae-myung's presidential victory) occurred, so shouldn't the people bear the responsibility for it themselves?"

He then lamented, "In past election seasons, I interviewed many candidates about their policies and informed my congregation. Now that I am facing this situation, I accept it with a calm heart. If I must go to prison, I will accept that with joy as well."

Some in the legal community are also raising concerns about the intensity of the investigation. One lawyer pointed out, "Even though the statements in question can be verified through video evidence, the seizure of a mobile phone and the request for an arrest warrant may be an excessive measure."

Depending on the outcome of the review on the 8th, the controversy surrounding the exercise of public authority, involving religious and legal circles, is expected to spread further.

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