The new book, 'Pastor Son Hyun-bo's Appeal Brief,' documents through concrete facts—20 accusations, 39 trials, and 147 days in solitary confinement—how the law operates, in the language of lived experience. [Photo: Miraesa · Yonhap News]

"If I am imprisoned, it is not a personal matter, but a reflection of the state of this nation."

The new book, 'Pastor Son Hyun-bo's Appeal Brief,' documents through concrete facts—20 accusations, 39 trials, and 147 days in solitary confinement—how the law operates, in the language of lived experience. 

Pastor Son Hyun-bo of Saerom Church in Busan led a 2 million-attendee united worship service on October 27, 2024, to oppose attempts to enact bad laws, such as a comprehensive anti-discrimination bill that infringes upon religious freedom. Following President Yoon Suk-yeol's December 3 martial law declaration, he initiated the 'Save Korea Rally' to criticize various obstructions of state affairs, including 31 impeachment attempts against public officials by the then-opposition Democratic Party, and to pray for the nation. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he defended on-site worship services despite a ban, leading to the closure of the church building. He also held services outside the church in the courtyard with his congregants, wearing masks.

In March 2025, prior to the Busan Superintendent of Education by-election, he held a conversation with preliminary candidate Jeong Seung-yoon during a church service and posted related videos on social media platforms like YouTube.

In June, before the presidential election, he stated at a prayer meeting held at the church, "Candidate Kim Moon-soo must be elected, and candidate Lee Jae-myung must be defeated."

Then, on September 8 of that year, shortly before midnight, Pastor Son Hyun-bo was arrested and imprisoned with an arrest warrant issued on charges of violating election law. The reason for the warrant was "fear of flight." 

The issuance of a pre-trial arrest warrant for violating election law was an extremely rare occurrence. Furthermore, arresting a senior pastor of a large church, who must lead worship services weekly or daily, on grounds of "fear of flight" was something even unimaginable in the 1970s and 1980s. During this process, Saerom Church, where Pastor Son Hyun-bo serves, was subjected to an unannounced search and seizure.

On January 30, 2026, in the first trial, Pastor Son Hyun-bo was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for one year. Although he was released and became a free man, it was a clear "guilty" verdict. All ten charges were recognized as offenses, and particularly, the assistant pastor's prayer content was also recognized as "collusion" with Pastor Son.

The book introduces various "outside" helping hands for Pastor Son, especially the reactions from the United States. His two sons explained the situation to the White House and other entities in the U.S., and over 18,000 American pastors sent in signatures for Pastor Son's release. 

If the most basic acts of faith, such as sermons and prayers, are judged by the law, if speaking becomes cautious, and if one must be conscious of how even prayers might be recorded, has the situation not already changed? 

As the space of faith is reconfigured by the gaze of the law, Pastor Son examines one by one what has been lost and what has been superimposed in the process. 

The book is not merely a personal experience narrative. It reveals, step by step, over the course of time, how sermons and prayers became subject to the law, and how a single sentence can transform into grounds for defining an entire person. 

Reporter Lim Yo-hee