Rev. Jeon Kwang-hoon speaks on August 5, 2025, at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, which is suspected of being involved in the violent riot incident at the Seoul Western District Court in January of this year, where police are conducting a search and seizure. Yonhap News

 Sarang Jeil Church Searched; Is Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon's Speech a Crime?

Police have launched a full-scale coercive investigation into Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, who is accused of being behind the violent riot incident at the Seoul Western District Court. The core of the investigation is whether Pastor Jeon's remarks, where he called for "the right to resist the nation," actually incited a riot. Police have already executed wiretap warrants to secure Pastor Jeon's call and messenger records, and based on this, have conducted extensive search and seizure operations at Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, and nearby studios.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Security Investigation Division 1 conducted search and seizure operations on the morning of the 5th against Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, Sarang Jeil Church, and nearby studios producing Pastor Jeon's YouTube content, on charges of instigating the intrusion into a special building, among others. The scope covered major activity centers of Pastor Jeon, including the church's main sanctuary, offices, and video production facilities.

A source involved in the investigation explained, "Multiple circumstances have been identified where the ringleaders who stormed the Western District Court building in January were influenced by Pastor Jeon's instructions or incitement," and added, "We are attempting to prove the instigation charges through communication records before and after the acts of violence."

Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon stated at a rally in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on January 18, shortly before the Western District Court incident, "We must gather at the Western District Court and exercise the right to resist the nation." Immediately after that remark, dozens of people allegedly stormed the Seoul Western District Court building, destroyed offices, vandalized property, and some even attempted arson. Yoon Mo and Lee Mo, who were "special evangelists" belonging to Sarang Jeil Church and were prosecuted for trespassing at the time, were recently sentenced to 3 years and 6 months, and 3 years in prison, respectively.

Police are intensely investigating the relationship between these defendants and Pastor Jeon, whether there was prior collusion, and the causal link between his rally remarks and actual actions. The investigation team obtained wiretap warrants from the court in April and has been analyzing Pastor Jeon's communication records, during which circumstances of interaction with individuals involved in the riot have also reportedly emerged. It is claimed that the current search and seizure was executed based on tangible evidence secured through the analysis of communication records.

Sarang Jeil Church strongly criticized the police investigation. In a statement, the church said, "After more than six months with no investigation, a sudden search and seizure has been carried out," and declared, "We will resolutely take legal action against attempts to pressure the church, which has no relation to the Western District Court incident, through state power."

Upon hearing the news of the search and seizure, about 100 church officials and members gathered in front of the church to condemn the police, shouting slogans such as "Stop the persecution of churches" and "What are you trying to seize when construction is underway on the building?" Pastor Yang Jun-won of Yeolbang Jeil Church argued, "The intervention of state power in a church undermines the spirit of the constitution," and asserted, "Pastor Jeon merely spoke of the right to resist the nation."

Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon has fully denied the charges. At a press conference in February, he dismissed them by saying, "I have no connection with the people who participated in the riot. Am I in a position to converse with those people?" He claimed, "After sending former President Yoon Suk-yeol to prison, I am next."

Previously, Pastor Jeon was convicted in the first trial for special obstruction of public officials in connection with inciting the crowd at a rally in front of Cheong Wa Dae on October 3, 2019, to "overthrow Moon Jae-in like the April 19 Revolution." At the time, the court acknowledged his criminal liability by emphasizing the "context and circumstances of incitement" between his rally remarks and the acts of violence.

Following the search and seizure, police have announced plans for further questioning of Pastor Jeon and related individuals, and the scope of the investigation may expand beyond Pastor Jeon's instigation charges to include the content of his YouTube videos, rally remarks, and organized directives among his followers.

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