Joint Investigation Task Force on Religious-Political Collusion Indicts and Detains Lee Man-hee for Coercing People Power Party Membership

Prosecutors and police have indicted Lee Man-hee, the leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, on charges of ordering Shincheonji members to join the People Power Party.

The Joint Investigation Headquarters on Religious-Political Collusion and Corruption announced on the 29th that Lee was indicted and detained for violating the Political Parties Act and other charges. The task force explained that, among the offenses under investigation, Lee was indicted due to the imminent expiration of the statute of limitations for coercing membership in the People Power Party and interfering with party operations ahead of the 20th presidential election.

The task force stated, "We will continue to conduct rigorous and prompt investigations into the remaining allegations against Lee and other accomplices who have been detained."

Yonhap News Agency

Lee is accused of having coerced Shincheonji members to join the People Power Party from 2021 to 2024 in order to influence the party’s presidential primary and general elections. On the 22nd, the task force requested an arrest warrant for Lee, and on the 24th, Kim Jinman, the presiding judge in charge of warrants at Seoul Central District Court, issued the warrant citing concerns about evidence tampering.

The previous day, a court hearing was held on Lee’s request to review the legality of his detention, but the Seoul Central District Court rejected it, stating "there is no reason for the request," so his detention was upheld.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.