Chairman ManHee Lee of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, who is 94 years old, is currently being held in detention while facing allegations including violations of the Political Parties Act and obstruction of business. According to the investigation, he is accused of directing tens of thousands of Shincheonji members to join a particular political party.

I fully support a thorough investigation based on the evidence and believe that the law must apply equally to everyone. However, I question whether continued detention is necessary given Chairman Lee’s advanced age and the circumstances of the case.

At 94, Lee is among Korea’s oldest citizens and is also a Korean War veteran. Korea has a longstanding tradition of respecting and caring for its elderly, symbolised by the cheongnyeojang, the traditional longevity walking stick presented to senior citizens as a symbol of health, dignity, and respect.

The remaining Korean War veterans are now in their 90s, making them a rapidly disappearing generation of witnesses to Korea’s history. Their lives and experiences deserve to be preserved and respected.

For these reasons, I believe Chairman Lee should be allowed to undergo investigation and trial without detention, while authorities continue to pursue the case rigorously and fairly. His age and status as a veteran should not place him above the law, but they should be considered when determining whether detention is truly necessary.

This issue also presents an opportunity to reconsider how elderly defendants are treated. Where there is no compelling need for detention, investigations and trials involving people in their 80s and 90s should, wherever possible, be conducted without incarceration.

Religious leaders and human-rights advocates from different backgrounds have expressed concern about Chairman Lee’s detention and called for his release and a non-custodial investigation and trial. Whatever one's view of Shincheonji or its beliefs, the fundamental principles of human dignity, compassion, and justice should remain.

As our elders once reminded younger generations:

That simple question still carries a powerful message today: respect for the elderly should never be forgotten, even when the law must be upheld.