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Far-right pastor says former President Yoon has 'no guts'

Published: 03 May. 2026, 15:19 Updated: 03 May. 2026, 19:56

Far-right pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church speaks to reporters before attending a trial at the Seoul Western District Court in western Seoul on April 17. [NEWS1]

Far-right pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who was recently released on bail while standing trial on charges of inciting a courthouse riot, criticized former President Yoon Suk Yeol for “having no guts” during the investigation of his botched martial law declaration.

In a worship service video dated April 26 and uploaded to the pastor’s YouTube channel on Sunday, Jeon asked Kim Hak-sung, an emeritus professor at Kangwon National University Law School, “Does the Constitution allow for martial law?” After Kim replied, “It allows for it,” Jeon said, “The lawyers, including Yoon Gap-geun, are foolish.”

“Since [Democratic Party Rep.] Jung Chung-rae is the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the charge of insurrection was dropped, so all former President Yoon had to do was stand up and say, ‘I’m going to the presidential office,’ but he has no guts,” Jeon said.

During the impeachment trial in January, the National Assembly’s impeachment prosecution team withdrew the charge of insurrection under criminal law from the grounds for impeachment, taking into account that the proceedings were a constitutional trial rather than a criminal one. Jeon was referring to what he saw as a failure to respond properly at the time.

“In that case, the ruling party would not have been able to push for a special counsel law, but looking at him, President Yoon also has no guts,” Jeon added.

Jeon also shared an update on Yoon, saying the former president “has been reading only the Bible since 4 a.m.”

Jeon visited the former president at Seoul Detention Center last Thursday, after making the remarks.

The court had granted Jeon conditional bail on April 7 after he pleaded the need for regular hospital treatment for a urological condition caused by diabetes and the court saw the low risk of flight due to the pastor’s high public profile.

After his release, Jeon attended a weekend worship service at Gwanghwamun Square via video on April 12 and also took part in rallies there on April 25 and Saturday.

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]]