South Korean Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Shincheonji Church Founder Lee Man-hee

Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old founder of the Shincheonji Church, was arrested Wednesday in Seoul after a court issued a warrant citing concerns he could destroy evidence, @ABC reported. Lee appeared at the Seoul Central District Court in the afternoon for an arrest warrant hearing. He walked with a cane and was assisted by a church official but did not respond to questions from reporters.

The court granted the warrant that night. Investigators allege Lee used the church’s regional branches to pressure more than 50,000 followers to join the People Power Party from 2021 to 2024. The effort was reportedly intended to influence presidential and legislative primaries and secure favorable treatment for the church, including facility permits.

A special team of prosecutors and police has examined alleged ties between religious groups including Shincheonji and politicians since January. The inquiry forms part of wider investigations under the current government into the presidency of Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office in April 2025 after impeachment over his December 2024 martial law order and later convicted of rebellion.

The Shincheonji Church, which Lee established in 1984 and which reports about 200,000 followers, denied the accusations.

In a statement Thursday morning the church expressed “deep regret” over the arrest, said Lee had cooperated with investigators, and raised concerns about his age and health. Lee’s arrest follows the earlier arrest and indictment of Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han over separate allegations involving Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, who received a four-year prison sentence in April 2025 on charges that included accepting luxury gifts from a Unification Church official.