Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon speaks to reporters at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the morning of the 18th. Yonhap News

Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, identified by police as the mastermind behind the Seoul Western District Court incident, appeared before the police on the 18th.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Security Investigation Division summoned Pastor Jeon to its Jongno-gu office at 10 a.m. today and is currently conducting an investigation. Pastor Jeon is reportedly being questioned as a suspect.

Police suspect Pastor Jeon of instigating the protest group's intrusion into the Western District Court on January 19th, using methods such as psychological manipulation (gaslighting) under the guise of religious devotion, with charges including instigation of special trespassing and special obstruction of justice.

Pastor Jeon told reporters, "Is gaslighting a legal term? Is that something a judge would say? Then, is it also gaslighting when a believer is touched by hearing the words of the Bible? The reason I am campaigning in Gwanghwamun is to protect South Korea. I have been accused of 76 charges by the Moon Jae-in administration, including violations of assembly law, election law, defamation, and sedition. If the leftists become president, they will persecute me. Have you revealed who this Kim Hyun-ji is? My home has also been raided and searched."

In their investigation into the mastermind of the Western District Court incident, police have booked nine individuals, including Pastor Jeon and his daughter.

Hanmi Ilbo Editorial Department