Pro-Yoon pastor claims he was jailed for criticizing Lee administration — here’s the truth

Pastor Son Hyun-bo claimed during a US Christian podcast interview that he was jailed for criticizing the government, but the facts do not support this allegation. After Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law, Son organized protests against his impeachment and was arrested in September 2025 for violating election laws. He was released after a district court suspended his six-month prison sentence for one year.

The Korean law prohibits religious and educational organizations from using their platforms for political campaigning. Son's case was handled by the Busan municipal election commission, not the Lee administration. He had previously been fined for illegal electioneering. Son's concerns about proposed changes to the Korean civil code and the proposed anti-discrimination bill were shared with US President Donald Trump during their White House meeting.