Shincheonji leader indicted for violating Political Parties Act

Lee Man-hee, the 94-year-old leader of the religious sect Shincheonji Church of Jesus, was indicted with detention on Monday on charges of violating the Political Parties Act by a joint prosecutorial and police investigative team.

"We took priority action on the charges that were approaching the statute of limitations," an official from the joint investigation unit said. "We will swiftly and thoroughly continue our wide-ranging investigation into Lee's remaining alleged offenses, as well as into alleged accomplices already in custody."

Lee is accused of forcing church members to join the conservative People Power Party in July 2021, several months before the 2022 presidential election. The investigators believe that the alleged coerced membership drive obstructed the party's normal operations.

Lee is suspected of exploiting church members to advance the church’s interests in a bid to obtain approval to change the designated use of church buildings — possibly in exchange for providing support to a certain political figure.

BY KO SEUNG-PYO [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]