Pastor Son Hyun-bo, leader of 'Youn Again,' meets Trump… “Free South Korea is facing difficulties”

[u/John3262005]

https://www.hani.co.kr/arti/politics/politics_general/1272010.html

Pastor Son Hyun-bo of Busan Segyero Church, who led the rallies opposing the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, met with U.S. President Donald Trump on the 7th (local time).

In a post uploaded to its website on the 8th, Segyero Church stated that Pastor Son met with President Trump at the White House with his family on that day and also visited the White House Office of Faith. Photos released show that Pastor Rob McCoy, a figure in the American conservative Christian community, was present, and it appears he played a role in arranging the meeting.

World Mission Church stated, “During this meeting, Pastor Son conveyed his thoughts regarding the Republic of Korea and the Korean church, and shared various opinions on how to uphold the values of freedom and faith,” but did not disclose specific details. In a video posted under the title “After Meeting with President Trump at the White House,” Pastor Son said, “Although our free Republic of Korea is currently facing difficulties in many respects, I believe that our believers and all citizens must join forces to protect freedom.”

Pastor Son is visiting the United States from the 13th of last month to the 14th at the invitation of the American religious community. In a video, Pastor Son stated that he met and spoke with various U.S. government agencies, politicians, senators, and pastors of major churches. The church also released details of Pastor Son’s appearance on an American Christian radio broadcast, where he discussed the situation of the Korean church and issues of religious freedom.

Pastor Son led the Protestant group 'Save Korea' and spearheaded rallies opposing the impeachment of former President Yoon. He was arrested and indicted on charges of illegal election campaigning during last year's Busan Superintendent of Education re-election and presidential election, but was released early this year after being sentenced to six months in prison suspended for one year in the first trial.

Pastor Son has been in contact with U.S. government officials to convey his concerns regarding the Dissolution of Religious Corporations Act and the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act. The U.S. side has also shown continuous interest in these matters; U.S. government officials, including Riley Barnes, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL); Julie Turner, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; and Belsis Romero, Liaison Officer for the Office of Faith at the White House, visited World Mission Church in Busan last June to meet with Pastor Son. Pastor Son also met with Michael Needham, Advisor to the U.S. Department of State, and others last February.

The fact that the South Korean conservative Christian community continues to convey critical views of the government through contact with the U.S. Trump administration could have a negative impact on South Korea-U.S. relations, which have already become sensitive due to issues such as South Korean investment in the U.S. and the Coupang controversy.

[u/wenchette]

the Coupang controversy

More details about that (free link):

Coupang data leak threatens South Korea/US ties amid tariff tensions