Shincheonji sect leader indicted for forcing followers into political party

Key facts

• Shincheonji Church of Jesus founder Lee Man-hee has been indicted.
• Lee is accused of forcing at least 56,472 church members to join the People Power Party.
• The alleged forced enrollments took place between July 2021 and January 2024.
• The indictment is related to influencing the outcome of the PPP's 2022 presidential primary and 2024 general election primaries.
• A court had previously granted an arrest warrant for Lee on charges of obstruction of business and violations of the Political Parties Act.

Investigators have indicted Lee Man-hee, the 94-year-old founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a nonmainstream religious sect, over allegations of forcing followers to join the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). The indictment, brought by a joint police-prosecution task force, comes as the five-year statute of limitations for the alleged offenses, which occurred between July 2021 and January 2024, is nearing its end.

Lee is suspected of compelling at least 56,472 church members to join the PPP. This action was allegedly intended to influence the outcomes of the party's 2022 presidential primary and its 2024 general election primaries. The period of these alleged forced enrollments largely overlaps with the time the PPP served as the ruling party under former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

A local court had previously granted an arrest warrant for Lee, citing concerns over the potential destruction of evidence. He faces charges including obstruction of business and violations of the Political Parties Act.