Pastor Jun Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who was arrested and indicted as the alleged mastermind behind the Seoul Western District Court rampage, has been granted bail. Meanwhile, four individuals who illegally entered the court building on the day of the incident received suspended prison sentences at their first trial.
The Seoul Western District Court said on Monday that it accepted Pastor Jun's bail request. The court said it comprehensively considered factors including his need for regular treatment for urological conditions stemming from diabetes, the low flight risk given his publicly known face, the ability to prevent overseas flight through a travel ban, and the need to guarantee the defendant's right to defense.
Pastor Jun had denied the charges at his first hearing on February 27, saying, "I was asleep at 3 a.m. and didn't even know the incident had occurred." He filed for bail citing deteriorating health.
Bail conditions include payment of a 100 million won (approximately $72,000) deposit and a ban on direct or indirect communication with individuals related to the case. Pastor Jun must fulfill all bail conditions before he can be released.
In response, Sarang Jeil Church issued a statement saying, "Long after the Western District Court incident ended, they suddenly designated Pastor Jun as the mastermind and engaged in an unreasonable 'case-linking' that violates the law."
Pastor Jun is accused of inciting supporters to storm the Seoul Western District Court, destroy property, and assault police officers in the early hours of January 19 last year, shortly after the arrest of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. Prosecutors allege that Pastor Jun stoked the rampage by invoking "the people's right to resistance" and making remarks to the effect that "anti-state forces must be punished" to church members and participants of Gwanghwamun rallies.
