SEOUL: South Korean authorities have arrested the leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus over allegations that he orchestrated a large-scale campaign to pressure followers into joining a political party, marking the latest development in a widening investigation into the relationship between religious groups and political figures.
A Seoul court approved the arrest of Lee Man-hee, the 94-year-old founder and head of the religious organisation, after investigators argued that there was a risk of evidence being destroyed if he remained free during the probe.
Lee is accused of coercing more than 50,000 members of Shincheonji to enrol in the conservative People Power Party (PPP) between 2021 and 2024, allegedly violating South Korea’s Political Parties Act. Prosecutors claim the recruitment effort was carried out while the PPP was in power under former president Yoon Suk Yeol.
The Seoul Central District Court said the arrest warrant was issued because of concerns that evidence linked to the case could be compromised. Lee was taken into custody shortly after the warrant was approved late on Wednesday.
The case comes against the backdrop of a broader political scandal that has engulfed South Korea in recent years, according to AFP. Former president Yoon was removed from office last year after being convicted of insurrection related to his brief declaration of martial law in December 2024. He remains behind bars while appealing a life sentence.
Lee’s arrest follows other high-profile investigations involving influential religious organisations. Earlier this year, prosecutors indicted Han Hak-ja, leader of the Unification Church, over allegations that church officials were instructed to offer inducements to former first lady Kim Keon Hee in an effort to secure favourable treatment for church-related business interests.
In April, an appeals court sentenced Kim to four years in prison after convicting her on several charges, including accepting luxury gifts from a Unification Church official.
Authorities launched a joint investigation involving prosecutors and police in January to examine suspected links and cooperation between religious groups and political actors. The arrest of Lee is expected to intensify scrutiny of those relationships.
Founded in 1984, Shincheonji has become one of South Korea’s most controversial religious movements. The organisation is known for its distinctive interpretation of biblical teachings, particularly the Book of Revelation, and has attracted a substantial following both within South Korea and abroad.
However, the church has long faced criticism from former members and religious watchdogs, who accuse it of employing deceptive recruitment methods and exercising excessive control over adherents. Shincheonji also came under intense public attention during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic when a significant proportion of South Korea’s confirmed coronavirus cases were linked to church members.
The church had opposed prosecutors’ request for Lee’s detention, arguing that his advanced age and cooperation with investigators made an arrest unnecessary. Shincheonji had not issued an official response to Lee’s arrest at the time of publication.
