Verified chronology
Timeline of the case
Each entry distinguishes established facts from allegations. Allegations are labelled and remain the prosecution's claims unless and until judicially determined. Every entry links to its source.
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A joint prosecutor–police task force investigates alleged links between religious groups and politics. Searches of Shincheonji facilities reportedly seize membership records and electronic data.
Reported — Yonhap; ABC / AP
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Mr. Lee appears voluntarily for questioning as a suspect. He denies the allegations during questioning, and later categorically denies them at the warrant hearing.
Source: Yonhap
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Investigators — the joint police–prosecution task force — apply for an arrest warrant, alleging Political Parties Act violations and obstruction of business. They allege that at least 56,472 members were enrolled in the People Power Party between July 2021 and January 2024, reportedly organised under an internal code name reported as the "Pilates project" (필라테스 프로젝트). This is the investigators' figure and allegation; a court has not ruled on it.
Source: Yonhap (24 Jun, "최소 5만6천472명"); Digital Times (24 Jun); Korea Times (29 Jun)
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The Seoul Central District Court holds a warrant hearing. Mr. Lee appears with assistance because of his advanced age; his counsel argue he complied with all summonses and poses no flight risk. The court issues the warrant after the hearing, citing risk of evidence destruction, and Mr. Lee is taken into detention. The full written detention order has not been publicly released.
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Mr. Lee files a petition for review of the legality of his detention; the court dismisses it the same day.
Source: Asia Economy
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Prosecutors indict him while detained. The joint investigation team states it acted on these charges first because the five-year statute of limitations for the alleged July 2021 conduct was approaching, while the broader investigation continues. No trial judgment exists; there has been no conviction or acquittal.
Source: Korea JoongAng Daily; Yonhap
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The Minister of Justice, Jeong Seong-ho, publishes a statement on his official Facebook account describing the case as a serious crime for which "strict criminal punishment… is inevitable," and closing with a quotation of Matthew 7:15 ("Beware of false prophets"). What this may raise for the presumption of innocence and state neutrality toward religion is discussed on the Human Rights page.
Source: Jeong Seong-ho, official Facebook (29 Jun); reported by Newsis and Kukmin Ilbo (30 Jun)
Health note — displayed prominently
A petition prepared for court submission states Mr. Lee requires daily medical assistance and ongoing healthcare, warns that prolonged detention could cause irreversible harm, and notes his fixed residence and established social foundation. He is 95 (born 1931).
Dates reflect reporting available at the time of writing. Newer procedural developments — further hearings, rulings, or health updates — are recorded on the Case Updates page. Verify current status against live sources before relying on this chronology.