Pastor Jun Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, released on bail while standing trial on charges of inciting the Seoul Western District Court riot, has filed an injunction to suspend his travel ban, arguing that the measure "stigmatizes him as a flight risk," according to sources.
The First Administrative Division of the Suwon District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Park Sung-kyu, held a hearing Thursday on the injunction filed by Jun against the Minister of Justice seeking to suspend the enforcement of the travel ban.
Jun faces charges including incitement in connection with the riot at the Seoul Western District Court in January last year, when supporters of former President Yoon Suk Yeol stormed the courthouse, destroyed equipment, and assaulted police officers.
Police imposed a travel ban on Jun in August of the same year. The ban was lifted when he was indicted with detention on February 3, but it was reinstated after he was released on bail on the 7th of last month, citing underlying health conditions.
In response, Jun filed an injunction seeking to suspend the travel ban with the Suwon District Court on the 23rd of last month, along with an administrative lawsuit demanding the cancellation of the travel ban itself.
Jun did not appear at the hearing, with his attorney attending on his behalf. The hearing was held behind closed doors.
"Pastor Jun is currently in poor health and cannot flee overseas," said attorney Koo Ju-wa of law firm Between, Jun's legal representative. "We explained to the court that his face is widely known, making the risk of flight low."
"The seven individuals identified as accomplices in the Western District Court riot have already told police that they entered the court independently of Pastor Jun," the attorney added. "The charge of inciting obstruction of special official duties against Pastor Jun does not hold."
The Ministry of Justice, on the other hand, has reportedly maintained that the travel ban is justified given the gravity of the charges.
The court plans to decide whether to grant the injunction after reviewing arguments from both sides.
