Internal feud hits Yoo's religious cult
The Korea Times/May 27, 2014
By Lee Hyo-sik
The religious cult led by Yoo Byeung-eun, the de-facto owner of the sunken ferry Sewol, is embroiled in an internal feud over how the group should deal with the prosecution's investigation of its fugitive leader.
Moderates are insisting that the Salvation Sect should cooperate with investigators, while hardliners are threatening to take radical measures to derail the ongoing investigation and protect the nation's most-wanted man.
According to the prosecution and the Salvation Sect Tuesday, Kim Seong-il, the chairman of the cult, recently resigned from his post.
Lee Tae-jong, a spokesperson for the Salvation Sect, said that the religious group accepted the resignation from Kim, who is regarded as a moderate. He had offered to resign by taking responsibility for the group's deepening internal strife.
Kim and other moderate members said that the Salvation Sect should actively cooperate with law enforcement authorities to clear all the suspicions currently surrounding the group.
However, the hardliners, who staged a rally Sunday in front of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office following the arrest of group members, have insisted on resisting the prosecution in order to save Yoo.
Kim offered to step down from the post after failing to persuade the hardliners, according to the spokesman.
On May 21 when the prosecution raided Geumsuwon, a stronghold of the Salvation Sect, the group initially agreed to open the compound at 8 a.m. But investigators were only able to enter the site at around noon after hardliners protested the decision engineered by Kim and other moderate members.
With the radicals gaining increasing support, the religious group said its 100,000 followers will protect Yoo. ''We hope Yoo remains free. A hundred thousand followers will protect Yoo,'' said spokesman Lee.
The prosecution Sunday increased its initial reward money of 50 million won tenfold to 500 million won ($488,000) for anyone who can provide tips leading to Yoo's arrest. Those who help apprehend his eldest son Dae-gyun will receive 100 million won, up from the previous 30 million won.
As part of its widening probe into Yoo's close aides, the prosecution arrested Lee Jae-oak, chairman of Hemato Centric Foundation, Monday night, on charges of providing aid to the fugitive.
Lee is also suspected of embezzling company funds for the former Semo Group chairman. Hemato Centric Foundation is a company that exhibited Yoo's photos, and marketed them at home and abroad.
Investigators are quizzing Lee about the whereabouts of Yoo and his eldest son.
In the meantime, prosecutors sought a warrant from the court Monday night to detain four followers of the religious group. They were arrested Sunday for allegedly giving Yoo mineral water and dried fruit, and letting him use their mobile phones. A warrant will also be sought for a woman in her 30s for allegedly fleeing with Yoo.
The prosecution said Yoo and his son likely still remain in South Jeolla Province because Yoo and the Salvation Sect own a number of properties in remote areas there. Investigators have raided several properties in the province since it was confirmed Sunday that Yoo had stayed in a remote building in the city of Suncheon.
The prosecution said there are many hideouts that Yoo can stay in South Jeolla Province, adding that investigators are combing through ports in the province to prevent Yoo and his son from fleeing the country onboard a ship.
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