Joint Investigation Team Seeks Arrest Warrant for 95-Year-Old Shincheonji Leader Lee Man-hee Over 'Forced Party Membership' Allegations

The joint prosecution-police investigation team, which is probing allegations of corruption involving the collusion between religion and politics, has moved to secure the detention of Lee Man-hee (95), the leader of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, in connection with allegations of "forced party membership."

The joint investigation team announced today (June 22) that it has "requested an arrest warrant for Lee on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act in relation to the case of forcing Shincheonji members to join a specific political party."

Lee is accused of forcing his followers to join the People Power Party (PPP) between 2021 and 2024 with the intention of influencing the party's presidential and general election primaries.

The joint investigation team believes that Shincheonji encouraged its followers to join the People Power Party under various names, such as the "Pilates Project," for each branch, and that as a result, more than 50,000 followers joined the party as members.

The warrant also includes charges of obstruction of business, as the team concluded that these organized efforts to sign up party members hindered the election-related operations of the People Power Party.

The joint investigation team had previously requested and received arrest warrants on the same charges for former general secretary Go Dong-an, known as the "number two" of Shincheonji, as well as former general secretaries of the John and Simon branches.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.