A Seoul court on Wednesday issued arrest warrants for three former senior officials of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus over suspicions they forced followers to join the People Power Party between 2021 and 2024.
The hearings for Goh Dong-ahn, former No. 2 leader of Shincheonji, and two other former officials took place at the Seoul Central District Court after a joint prosecution and police team filed for their arrest warrants Friday. The court granted the warrants, citing concerns that the suspects could destroy evidence and flee.
The three are accused of violating the Political Parties Act that bans forcing people to join or quit political parties. The joint investigation team believes that more than 50,000 Shincheonji followers joined the PPP as a result.
Shincheonji founder Lee Man-hee was questioned over suspicions of involvement in the scheme on June 4. South Korea held a presidential election in 2022 and parliamentary elections in 2024.
