Trump spoke of ‘raids on churches’ before meeting South Korea’s Lee Jae-myung. What’s the story?

United States President Donald Trump met with South Korea’s recently elected leader Lee Jae-myung at the White House on Monday.

The visit, one of Lee’s first major foreign policy tests since taking office in June, came against the backdrop of political turbulence in Seoul and Trump’s own pointed remarks about alleged crackdowns on churches and even a joint US-Korean military facility.

Hours before their Oval Office engagement, Trump issued a blunt message on his Truth Social platform: “WHAT IS GOING ON IN SOUTH KOREA? Seems like a Purge or Revolution. We can’t have that and do business there. I am seeing the new President today at the White House. Thank you for your attention to this matter!!!”

The sharp post set expectations of a contentious summit, but once the two leaders appeared together, the tone was markedly different.

Lee praised the Oval Office’s new interior design and complimented Trump’s economic record and peace initiatives.

He even went as far as suggesting the symbolic construction of a Trump Tower in North Korea and a future round of golf as part of efforts to improve inter-Korean ties.

Trump, in turn, highlighted the close personal rapport the two leaders had established. “We’ve known each other and gotten along very well,” he said. “It’s a great honour to be with you and congratulations on your election. That was a big one, and we’re with you 100 per cent.”

The cordial exchange contrasted sharply with Trump’s earlier warning of upheaval in South Korea.

What is the political turmoil in Seoul?

South Korea has experienced an extraordinary period of political upheaval this year. Former president Yoon Suk-yeol, who came to power in 2022, was dismissed in April after the nation’s Constitutional Court upheld impeachment proceedings against him. The case stemmed from Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law earlier in the year, a move critics denounced as a “self-coup.”

Following Yoon’s ouster, prosecutors launched investigations into allegations of corruption and abuse of office, including claims involving Yoon’s wife, former first lady Kim Keon-hee.

Both Yoon and Kim have since been jailed, marking the first time in South Korean history that a former presidential couple has been simultaneously imprisoned over criminal allegations.

Lee Jae-myung, a longtime opposition leader, emerged victorious in the June election. His government has pledged to restore democratic institutions and pursue accountability for alleged misconduct by Yoon and his allies.

The investigations, however, have stirred controversy both at home and abroad, particularly as they have implicated major religious organisations and even touched upon US-South Korea military cooperation.

What are the church raids Trump was talking about?

One of the first high-profile operations carried out by authorities targeted Sarang Jeil Church, an evangelical congregation in Seoul led by pastor Jun Kwang-hoon. Jun is a well-known conservative activist and a vocal supporter of the ousted president Yoon.

Earlier this month, police raided the church in connection with unrest that unfolded outside a Seoul courthouse in January.

That incident occurred after the court extended Yoon’s detention. Pro-Yoon demonstrators, including members of Jun’s congregation, attempted to storm the courthouse, sparking a violent confrontation.

Investigators believe the church played a role in mobilising the demonstrators. The raid on Sarang Jeil Church was part of a broader inquiry into the networks that organised the January unrest.

What is South Korea’s expanding Unification Church scandal?

Perhaps the most consequential investigation centres on the Unification Church, also known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

In July, prosecutors conducted large-scale raids across more than ten locations linked to the church, including its headquarters in Cheongpa-dong, the Cheonjeonggung Palace in Cheongpyeong, offices in Mapo, and the residence of former senior executive Yoon Young-ho.

The raids form part of an expanding probe into allegations that the church sought to wield political influence by providing luxury goods and financial incentives to government figures.

Former first lady Kim Keon-hee is accused of accepting gifts worth more than $14,000, including a Chanel handbag and jewelry, from a church-affiliated official.

In return, prosecutors allege the church lobbied for policy favours, such as support for Cambodian development projects, the acquisition of a Korean television channel, and invitations to key political events.

During the July operations, tensions escalated dramatically when Lee Cheong-woo, the church’s director of central administration, allegedly mobilised around 600 young members to physically obstruct investigators.

Reports from South Korean news outlet JTBC indicated that Lee issued verbal threats and even threatened to ram his vehicle into journalists covering the raid.

Authorities also uncovered large caches of cash and expensive goods in a hidden safe, believed to be connected to lobbying activities.

The scandal has focused attention on Jung Wonju, executive secretary to Chairwoman Hak-ja Han and vice president of Cheon Mu Won, the church’s top governing body.

Though Han remains the official spiritual head, Jung is widely regarded as the de facto second-in-command, having consolidated power within the organisation over the past decade.

Jung departed for the United States in June, citing her husband’s illness, just weeks before the raids began. Despite being subject to an informal travel restriction, she has not returned.

Critics say her absence, combined with her longstanding influence within the church, strongly suggests a central role in the alleged misconduct.

The church has denied the allegations, characterising them as isolated wrongdoing by individuals rather than systemic corruption.

Nevertheless, the hierarchical nature of the Unification Church has led many observers to question whether such activities could have occurred without approval from the leadership.

The Unification Church’s political scandal has been further complicated by its extensive media connections. Jung Wonju’s family members occupy top editorial positions in outlets associated with the church.

Her husband’s younger brother, Tom McDevitt, is chairman of The Washington Times, a US-based newspaper long linked to the movement.

Meanwhile, her own brother, Hee-taek Jung, serves as CEO of Segye Ilbo, a major South Korean daily also affiliated with the church.

These links have raised serious questions about whether the church has used media influence to shield itself from scrutiny.

Just a day before the raids, The Washington Times published a laudatory profile of Chairwoman Hak-ja Han, sparking allegations that the newspaper was being leveraged to defend church leadership amid growing legal pressure.

What happened at Osan Air Base?

Beyond churches, investigators have also looked into events surrounding Yoon’s martial law order. In July, prosecutors executed a search warrant at Osan Air Base, a facility jointly operated by the United States and South Korea.

The focus was reportedly on areas controlled by the South Korean military, not US operations.

Authorities sought to uncover details about how Yoon’s martial law was enacted and whether any irregularities occurred in the process.

While South Korean officials stressed the raid was limited to their jurisdiction, the operation drew attention because of the base’s sensitive status as a symbol of US-Korean military cooperation.

Trump, in his Oval Office remarks, appeared particularly unsettled by this development, remarking that “they even went into our military base and got information.”

What is the scope of the South Korea church raids?

The widening scope of the investigations has extended beyond Yoon’s immediate allies. Last month, prosecutors raided Yeouido’s Full Gospel Church, one of the world’s largest Pentecostal congregations.

Authorities are investigating allegations that its pastor had ties to figures implicated in covering up the accidental death of a Marine in 2023.

While distinct from the corruption allegations tied to Yoon and the Unification Church, this case put a spotlight on the broader reach of prosecutors’ efforts under Lee’s administration, which have increasingly targeted major religious institutions suspected of political entanglements.

How did Trump and Lee navigate this issue?

When asked about his earlier warnings during his joint appearance with Lee, Trump softened his tone. “It didn’t sound to me like South Korea,” he said, suggesting the allegations were surprising.

He also joked about the special prosecutor leading the investigation, quipping, “Is his name Deranged Jack Smith, by any chance?” — a reference to the US prosecutor who had brought criminal cases against Trump before his reelection.

Lee defended the investigations, explaining that they were mandated by South Korea’s National Assembly and focused on uncovering wrongdoing tied to Yoon’s attempt to consolidate power through martial law.

Lee described Yoon’s actions as a “self-coup” and framed the probes as a necessary step in restoring democratic order.

Despite the sensitive issues, the meeting ended with both leaders highlighting cooperation. Lee complimented Trump’s role in easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and praised his economic achievements.

He noted recent stock market gains and urged Trump to continue pursuing Korean peace initiatives, even suggesting that Trump could play a historic role in reunification efforts.

Trump, who has long sought recognition for his diplomacy with North Korea, welcomed the praise and stated that the alliance with South Korea remained strong.

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With inputs from agencies

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