South Korean court orders arrest of Shincheonji church founder over political meddling

A South Korean court has ordered the arrest of Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, based on allegations of orchestrating an illegal political scheme. The arrest stems from accusations that Lee directed tens of thousands of his followers to join the conservative People Power Party.

Prosecutors accuse Lee of violating the Political Parties Act, which prohibits religious groups from engaging in political activities, and of obstruction of justice. The court cited concerns about the potential destruction of evidence as a primary reason for issuing the arrest warrant. Officials from the Seoul Central District Court were not immediately available for comment.

Lee, who founded Shincheonji in the 1980s and is considered a self-proclaimed messiah by his followers, appeared frail during a court hearing for the warrant. He did not respond to questions regarding the charges. Mainstream Christian organizations often label Shincheonji as a "brainwashing cult."

Investigators allege that between 2021 and 2024, over 50,000 Shincheonji members were mobilized to support People Power Party candidates during the 2022 presidential and 2024 parliamentary nomination contests. Authorities are examining this as a potential case of collusion between religious organizations and political parties.

Shincheonji gained notoriety in South Korea during the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak, as a significant number of early cases were linked to its members. Lee had previously been acquitted in 2021 on charges related to violating public health laws. This investigation is part of a wider inquiry into alleged political interference by religious groups, including the Unification Church.