Leader Of Secretive South Korean Church Arrested In Election Influence Investigation

SEOUL — The leader of a secretive South Korean religion was arrested Wednesday arsenic authorities widened an investigation into allegations that he illegally recruited thousands of followers into nan blimpish People Power Party to power elections.

The Shincheonji Church has denied nan accusations against Lee Man-hee, 95, a self-proclaimed messenger of Jesus who founded nan congregation successful nan 1980s. The religion says it has astir 200,000 followers.

Since January, a typical squad of prosecutors and constabulary has been investigating alleged ties betwixt belief groups specified arsenic Shincheonji and nan Unification Church and politicians. The enquiry is portion of broader investigations nether South Korea’s existent wide authorities into nan presidency of erstwhile blimpish leader Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted from agency and convicted of rebellion complete his little imposition of martial rule successful December 2024.

Walking pinch a cane and assisted by a religion official, Lee didn’t respond to reporters’ questions arsenic he appeared astatine nan Seoul Central District Court connected Wednesday day for a proceeding connected whether to assistance prosecutors’ petition for his arrest.

In issuing nan apprehension warrant connected Wednesday night, nan tribunal cited Lee arsenic a threat to destruct evidence. The church, which had antecedently expressed interest astir Lee’s property and health, didn’t instantly remark connected his arrest.

Lee has been suspected of utilizing nan church’s location branches to unit much than 50,000 followers to subordinate nan People Power Party, aliases PPP, from 2021 to 2024 successful hopes of influencing nan party’s statesmanlike and legislative primaries. Investigators fishy nan campaign, which allegedly included efforts to support Yoon’s statesmanlike bid, was aimed astatine winning favorable curen for nan church, including permits to grow its facilities.

Lee’s apprehension came months aft nan apprehension and indictment of Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han complete allegations that she instructed religion officials to bribe Yoon’s woman and a blimpish lawmaker adjacent to him successful an effort to unafraid business favors. Han, widow of nan church’s laminitis Sun Myung Moon, has denied nan allegations.

An appeals tribunal successful April sentenced Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, to 4 years successful situation aft convicting her connected various charges, including receiving luxury gifts from a Unification Church official.

Yoon was removed from agency successful April 2025 aft being impeached complete his little imposition of martial rule successful December 2024 pursuing a standoff pinch nan liberal-led legislature. Arrested successful July 2025, Yoon is facing aggregate tests and has appealed a life condemnation for rebellion and a abstracted 30-year situation word complete charges that he ordered drone flights complete North Korea’s superior to stoke tensions and warrant martial rule astatine home.

Liberal President Lee Jae Myung, who won an early statesmanlike predetermination past twelvemonth aft Yoon’s removal from office, has authorized aggregate investigations into Yoon’s martial rule imposition and different allegations involving his management and wife.

Lee Man-hee established Shincheonji successful 1984, utilizing a connection meaning “new eden and caller earth.” He has been accused by different Christian groups arsenic a mendacious prophet aliases a cult leader. The religion describes Lee arsenic “the Promised Pastor,” an attendant of Jesus sent to attest what he claims are nan fulfilled prophecies from nan Book of Revelation.

Han is nan apical leader of nan Unification Church, officially called nan Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, which her husband, Moon, founded successful 1954.

Moon — a self-proclaimed messiah who preached caller interpretations of nan Bible and blimpish family values — built nan religion into an world activity pinch millions of followers and extended business interests. The religion is wide known for wide weddings, pairing thousands of couples who often are from different countries.

Tong-Hyung writes for nan Associated Press.