Lee Man-hee, Shincheonji Church Leader, Arrested

Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old leader of the Shincheonji Church, has had an arrest warrant issued against him by the court on charges including directing followers to join a specific political party en masse. The court determined there was a risk of evidence destruction, and Lee's arrest could influence the investigation into suspected collusion between religious circles and political circles.

Lee's side denied the charges during the court hearing, but the joint investigation headquarters (JIH) emphasized that the party membership enrollment would have been impossible without Lee's approval or instruction. The JIH has secured testimony through former secretary-general Ko Dong-ahn indicating that Lee directly encouraged followers to join the party.

Lee, appearing in court leaning on a cane due to his advanced age of 95, did not respond to reporters' questions. With the JIH now having secured not only key Shincheonji officials but also Lee himself, the investigation is focusing on verifying whether improper dealings, such as lobbying the political sphere for policy favors in exchange for party memberships, took place and if Lee was directly involved in the process.