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New South Korean President is Raiding Christian Leaders

Articles | August 7, 2025 | by Catholics for Catholics

Left-leaning Lee Jae-myung is also siding with China and North Korea, says the opposition.

By Catholics for Catholics

South Korea’s new left-leaning President is coming under criticism by the opposition, as they blame him for targeting Christian pastors.

On June 3, the Republic of South Korea’s (ROK) voters elected president Lee Jae-myung of the progressive Democratic Party of Korea. The elections were marred by allegations of pervasive wrongdoing, according to media reports.

According to Newsmax, government authorities raided the homes and offices of the Rev. Kim Jang-hwan (aka Billy Kim), chair of the Far East Broadcasting Company in Korea. They also raided the premises of Rev. Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, the country’s largest church with an estimated 600,000 attendees.

“Last Friday morning, the special investigation team on the ‘Corporal Death Case’ conducted a search and seizure at both my residence and the church’s executive office, and also confiscated my mobile phone,” the Rev. Lee said in a July 20th message to the congregation, according to a translation.

At issue is the famous Corporal Death Case, which is under investigation by a special prosecutor into how Lance Cpl. Chae Su-geun, a marine, died in July 2023 during a search and rescue operation in flooded areas. The happening kindled a complex political scandal with accusations of negligence and cover-up.

“We are separately verifying the possibility that the Protestant community was used as a channel in the rescue lobbying,” special prosecutor Jeong Min-young said in a July 21st briefing, according to a media report.

But Rev. Lee told his church: “I have never made any requests or mentioned anything to related institutions or public officials concerning the corporal death case. I have neither spoken about nor asked any pastors or any other individuals to do anything related to this case.”

“I earnestly ask that during the investigation process of this case, reckless actions that could undermine the fundamental purposes of the investigation — human rights protection and truth-seeking — be strictly avoided.”

“The church is a sacred place dedicated to worship and prayer to God. Therefore, it is a place that pastors and church members must protect more dearly than their own lives.”

Newsmax reports that the new administration is also targeting other religious institutions. The Seoul headquarters of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (Unification Church) was raided and its accounting records seized, according to reports.

South Korea’s Christian population was about 500,000 in 1950 but grew to about 3.9 million by 1970. The current number of Christians of all denominations is estimated at 15 million — about 30% of its 52 million population.

“This regime is carrying out countless other pro-China, pro-North Korea, anti-South Korea, and anti-Christian policies and persecution of Christians,” Sukwon Lee told Newsmax. “However, I believe that such persecution and suffering are rather a blessing and an opportunity for Christians to become more sanctified, repent, unite, and for Christians worldwide to pray together and partake in the suffering of Christ to become one.”

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