Investigators filed for an arrest warrant Monday for Shincheonji Church of Jesus founder Lee Man-hee over allegations he forced more than 50,000 followers to join the main opposition People Power Party ahead of elections in 2021 and 2024.
A joint police-prosecution taskforce said it requested the warrant on charges that included violating the Political Parties Act, which bans forcing people to join or quit political parties. The team believes more than 50,000 Shincheonji followers joined the party at the encouragement of the religious sect.
Last week, a Seoul court issued arrest warrants for three former senior Shincheonji officials, including Goh Dong-ahn, the church's former No. 2 leader. The joint taskforce suspects that Lee was behind the orders for followers to join the PPP.
The case has significant implications for the PPP, which is already tied up with an election law violation case involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
