Pastor convicted of election violations claims political persecution, compares laws to Nazi era

Pastor Son Hyun-bo of Segero Church in Busan, who was convicted in a lower court for illegal election campaigning, continues to assert that his imprisonment was a result of political persecution. Despite the conviction, Son, currently visiting the U.S., claimed in a sermon that he was jailed for criticizing the government.

Son voiced his frustration in a YouTube short titled 'How the far-left media reacted to my meeting with Trump.' He stated, "I heard the far-left media saying I am lying, that I am packaging a violation of the Public Official Election Act as political persecution." Son had previously told a U.S. Christian podcast that the current administration "infringes on religious freedom" and that he was "imprisoned for five months in solitary confinement for criticizing the government during a service."

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I heard the far-left media saying I am lying, that I am packaging a violation of the Public Official Election Act as political persecution.

However, media outlets like the Hankyoreh have highlighted that Son was convicted for violating election laws and the Local Education Autonomy Act, not for criticizing the government. They also noted that the complaint against him was filed by the Busan Election Commission before the current administration took office. Political figures have criticized his claims as "irresponsible diplomatic self-harm" and a "provocation to South Korea's judicial system."

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This administration infringes on religious freedom. I was imprisoned for five months in solitary confinement for criticizing the government during a service.

Despite the evidence, Son reiterated his stance, claiming he was "reported for talking about the values of the Bible during a sermon" and that he was "targeted alone, and this is indeed political persecution." He further likened the Public Official Election Act, which prohibits using one's official duties within organizations like educational or religious groups for election campaigning, to historical oppressive laws such as imperial Japan's Public Security Preservation Act and Nazi Germany's anti-Jewish laws. He invoked the memory of independence activist Pastor Ju Gi-cheol, who was arrested for refusing to pay homage at a Shinto shrine and died in prison, and suggested that similar laws were used by the Nazis to persecute Jews.

Son's claim of being uniquely targeted is contradicted by similar cases, such as Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church and Pastor Kim Jin-hong of Dure Village, who were also investigated for election law violations. Pastor Kim Jin-hong received a suspended sentence for stating he would violate election law. Furthermore, constitutional appeals by other pastors against the election law were deemed constitutional by the Constitutional Court, which stated that "the public interest achieved by preventing the side effects of the undue combination of politics and religion is greater."

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I was reported for talking about the values of the Bible during a sermon. I was targeted alone, and this is indeed political persecution.

Son, who led protests against the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, engaged in election campaigning during the Busan Superintendent of Education by-election and before the 2022 presidential election. He made statements criticizing presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, comparing him to Hitler. The court found clear intent and purpose to influence the election outcome, citing his organized and planned negative campaigning using his position as a pastor, and his continuation of such activities despite an ongoing investigation. Son has a prior conviction for defaming a political candidate in 2021.

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The public interest achieved by preventing the side effects of the undue combination of politics and religion is greater.