Shincheonji Leader Lee Man-hee Arrested Over 50,000 PPP Recruitment Drive
Updated
Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 24
Shincheonji Leader Lee Man-hee Arrested Over 50,000 PPP Recruitment Drive
3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Jun 24
Summary
A Seoul court jailed 95-year-old Shincheonji founder Lee Man-hee on Wednesday, saying he could destroy evidence in a probe into election influence.
Prosecutors suspect Lee used church regional branches to pressure more than 50,000 followers to join the conservative People Power Party from 2021 to 2024 and back favored candidates, including Yoon Suk Yeol.
Investigators say the effort sought favorable treatment for Shincheonji, including permits to expand facilities; the church, which claims about 200,000 followers, has denied wrongdoing.
The arrest broadens South Korea’s wider investigation into religious-political ties under President Lee Jae Myung, after Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han was also arrested and indicted in a related influence case.
Could South Korea's proposed 'Church Closure Act' become a tool to silence all religious political dissent?
When a church mobilizes 50,000 voters, is it faith-based politics or a threat to democracy?
After a president's impeachment, are church leaders the next dominoes to fall in a wider political cleanup?
Over 50,000 Shincheonji Followers Allegedly Forced Into People Power Party: Inside South Korea’s Largest Religious-Political Scandal (2021–2026)
Overview
The report details how the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, under the direction of founder Lee Man-hee, allegedly launched the 'Pilates Project' to covertly enroll over 50,000 followers as dues-paying members of the People Power Party (PPP) between 2021 and 2024. This large-scale recruitment aimed to influence the PPP’s internal decisions, including key election primaries, by intervening in party membership and management. Authorities accuse Shincheonji of violating the Political Parties Act by coercing members and manipulating political processes, with investigations revealing the church’s motivation was to repay a favor to former President Yoon. The case highlights serious concerns about religious groups’ political interference in South Korea.