Seoul: Investigators sought arrest warrants for three former senior officials of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a nonmainstream religious sect, over suspicions they forced church members to join the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) ahead of elections in 2021 and 2024.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a joint investigation team of the prosecution and police sought the warrants to arrest a former No. 2 leader of Shincheonji, identified only by surname Goh, and two others on charges of violating the Political Parties Act, which bans forcing people to join or quit political parties. Last week, Shincheonji founder Lee Man-hee was also questioned over these suspicions.

This marks the first time the investigation team has sought arrest warrants since its establishment in early January to probe allegations that the religious sect compelled followers to join the PPP as dues-paying members. This action is believed to have been aimed at influencing the outcomes of the presidential primary in 2021 and the general election primaries in 2024. Investigators estimate that more than 50,000 followers joined the party between 2021 and 2023 as a result of these efforts.