SEOUL, South Korea (AP) 鈥� The leader of a secretive South Korean church was arrested Wednesday as authorities widened an investigation into allegations that he illegally recruited thousands of followers into the conservative People Power Party to influence elections.
The has denied the accusations against , 95, a self-proclaimed messenger of Jesus who founded the congregation in the 1980s. The church says it has about 200,000 followers.
Since January, a special team of prosecutors and police has been investigating alleged ties between religious groups such as Shincheonji and the Unification Church and politicians. The inquiry is part of broader investigations under South Korea鈥檚 current liberal government into the presidency of former conservative leader , who was ousted from office and convicted of rebellion over his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024.
Walking with a cane and assisted by a church official, Lee didn’t respond to reporters鈥� questions as he appeared at the Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday afternoon for a hearing on whether to grant prosecutors鈥� request for his arrest.
In issuing the arrest warrant on Wednesday night, the court cited Lee as a threat to destroy evidence. The church, which had previously expressed concern about Lee鈥檚 age and health, didn’t immediately comment on his arrest.
Lee has been suspected of using the church鈥檚 regional branches to pressure more than 50,000 followers to join the People Power Party, or PPP, from 2021 to 2024 in hopes of influencing the party鈥檚 presidential and legislative primaries. Investigators suspect the campaign, which allegedly included efforts to support Yoon鈥檚 presidential bid, was aimed at winning favorable treatment for the church, including permits to expand its facilities.
Lee鈥檚 arrest came months after the arrest and indictment of Unification Church leader over allegations that she instructed church officials to bribe Yoon鈥檚 wife and a conservative lawmaker close to him in an effort to secure business favors. Han, widow of the church鈥檚 founder , has denied the allegations.
An appeals court in April sentenced Yoon鈥檚 wife, , to four years in prison after convicting her on various charges, including receiving luxury gifts from a Unification Church official.
Yoon was removed from office in April 2025 after being impeached over his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024 following a standoff with the liberal-led legislature. Arrested in July 2025, Yoon is facing multiple trials and has appealed a and a separate 30-year prison term over charges that he over North Korea鈥檚 capital to stoke tensions and justify martial law at home.
Liberal President , who won an early presidential election last year after Yoon鈥檚 removal from office, has authorized multiple investigations into Yoon鈥檚 martial law imposition and other allegations involving his administration and wife.
Lee Man-hee established Shincheonji in 1984, using a word meaning 鈥渘ew heaven and new earth.鈥� He has been accused by other Christian groups as a false prophet or a cult leader. The church describes Lee as 鈥渢he Promised Pastor,鈥� an attendant of Jesus sent to testify what he claims are the fulfilled prophecies from the Book of Revelation.
Han is the top leader of the Unification Church, officially called the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, which her husband, Moon, founded in 1954.
Moon 鈥� a self-proclaimed messiah who preached new interpretations of the Bible and conservative family values 鈥� built the church into an international movement with millions of followers and extensive business interests. The church is widely known for , pairing thousands of couples who often are from different countries.
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