Jun Kwang-hoon, senior pastor of Sarang Jeil Church who was released on bail after being detained as the alleged mastermind behind the Seoul Western District Court riot, has publicly criticized former President Yoon Suk-yeol, saying he "lacks guts."
According to a sermon video from November 26 uploaded to Pastor Jun's YouTube channel three days ago, he said, "Because Jung Chung-rae is chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the insurrection charge was excluded. So former President Yoon could just say, 'I'm going to the presidential office,' and that would settle it, but he doesn't have the guts."
He also criticized the legal response by Yoon's team, saying, "The defense team, including Yoon Kap-keun, is incompetent."
Pastor Jun's remarks appear to reference the fact that during the impeachment trial in January last year, the National Assembly's impeachment prosecution team excluded the criminal charge of insurrection from the grounds for impeachment in consideration of the nature of constitutional court procedures, suggesting that Yoon's side failed to respond actively to this.
He also said, "(Former President Yoon) has been reading only the Bible from 4 a.m. every morning these days." Pastor Jun reportedly visited the Seoul Detention Center on November 30, after making these remarks, to meet with the former president.
Regarding his own release on bail, he argued, "People say Jun Kwang-hoon should stay holed up at home, but that's not a condition of the bail." He added, "I've been detained four times so far, and if I'm detained a fifth time, the Republic of Korea will collapse."
Pastor Jun has been indicted on charges including instigating trespassing on a special structure and is standing trial at the Seoul Western District Court. Though once detained, he was granted bail on November 7, citing health reasons among others. The bail conditions included payment of a 100 million won ($73,000) deposit, restrictions on residence, and a ban on contact with persons related to the case, but did not include a ban on attending rallies.
Since then, Pastor Jun has continued to participate in rallies. During his first week after release, he spoke via video, and afterward he continued to deliver remarks in person at Gwanghwamun rallies. At a rally on the 2nd, he again defended the former president, saying, "Martial law is one of the president's governing powers."
