President Lee, Who Flagged Jeon Kwang-hoon's 'Holdout Controversy,' Says: "Report Cases of Defying the Rule of Law"

Lee raised concerns about Sarang Jeil Church in Jangwi District 10 on the 4th
At the Cabinet meeting that day, criticized, "So-called holdout tactics actually work"
Also called for action against "special obstruction of official duties," asking, "Why is it being allowed to continue?"

On the 10th, President Lee Jaemyung instructed officials to "investigate and report all cases nationwide in which people appear to be using force to resist the lawful order of the law," including "cases of pushing ahead with illegal acts or denying the rule of law."

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting held at the Blue House that day, President Lee noted that "there are groups that profit while abiding by the law." He criticized such cases, saying, "For example, in redevelopment projects, people use physical force to resist eviction enforcement for years, causing enormous damage, or engage in so-called holdout tactics—and it works."

President Lee Jaemyung speaks at a Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on the 10th. 2026.11.10 Yonhap News Agency

President Lee asked, "If the public sees this happening, wouldn't they think, 'If you're strong, you can just hold out,' or 'The law is on the side of the powerful'?" He continued, "Isn't physically obstructing the process a case of special obstruction of official duties?" and criticized the authorities, asking, "Why are you letting this go on?"

Earlier, President Lee inspected a public redevelopment project site in Jangwi-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, and raised concerns about the site of Sarang Jeil Church, whose pastor is Jeon Kwang-hoon. He asked the Seongbuk-gu district mayor, who was accompanying him, "Did you change the plan and exclude it because you couldn't carry out the compulsory execution?" He then said, "That makes no sense. There is no such thing as being able to break the law and simply hold out."

Jangwi District 10, where the church is located, was designated a redevelopment zone in 2008 and received approval for its management and disposal plan in 2017. However, a dispute began when Sarang Jeil Church demanded compensation. The church lost an eviction lawsuit against the redevelopment association, but after its congregants mounted fierce resistance, construction began in January 2026 in areas excluding the church.

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