Far-right pastor urges followers to donate 1 million won each to help pay for legal fees
Published: 20 Apr. 2026, 17:08
Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI
![Jeon Kwang-hoon, the head pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, appears for a hearing at the Seoul Northern District Court in Dobong District, northern Seoul, on April 11, 2025. [NEWS1]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/20/21c34dc9-c50a-43be-8ab6-7264d424d558.jpg)
Jeon Kwang-hoon, the head pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, appears for a hearing at the Seoul Northern District Court in Dobong District, northern Seoul, on April 11, 2025. [NEWS1]
Controversial far-right pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon urged his followers to donate 1 million won ($680) each to his legal fees during a sermon on Sunday.
Jeon, who heads the Sarang Jeil Church and was recently released on bail while standing trial on charges of inciting a courthouse riot, told parishioners that they should take out loans if necessary to support his cause, arguing that such “special offerings” were necessary to “preserve Korea.”
His remarks were delivered via video to a large outdoor gathering near Dongwha Duty Free Shop in central Seoul, where his church held what it described as a “joint Sunday service for freedom and reunification.”
He claimed that more than 20 million people had either heard his sermons or attended rallies in Gwanghwamun Square at least once as justification for the donations.
Jeon has been criticized for peddling unfounded conspiracy theories while issuing fiery denunciations of former liberal President Moon Jae-in and current President Lee Jae Myung.
He is currently charged with inciting a mob to storm the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Jan. 19 last year after the court issued an arrest warrant for then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, whom Jeon supports.
The conditions of his bail required him to post a 100 million won bond and include a ban on contact with individuals related to his case. However, he has not been forbidden from attending or speaking at rallies.
In his remarks, Jeon said that he no longer had the strength to preach in person and would continue delivering sermons by video.
He also criticized a recently enacted law criminalizing the distortion of legal proceedings, claiming it had been pushed by President Lee to avoid being charged in various criminal cases that have been suspended since he assumed the presidency.
“I may end up using that law myself,” Jeon said, adding that he would file complaints against judges and prosecutors.
The law, which took effect last month, allows for the punishment of judges or prosecutors who apply statutes unfairly to benefit or disadvantage specific individuals.
Jeon had previously argued in court that his detention was unjust, citing his deteriorating health, and was granted bail on April 7 for that reason.
“I can’t even urinate on my own,” he told reporters at a hearing on Friday. “Does it make sense to keep a seriously ill patient detained for two and a half months?”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY SHIN HYE-YEON [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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