Korean pastor who spent months in prison meets President Donald Trump at White House
Son Hyun-bo, the South Korean pastor who leads the conservative Christian movement Save Korea and spent months in prison, met President Donald Trump at the White House over the past weekend.
Son brought his family along for the White House trip and had a brief, friendly exchange with Trump, according to photos shared by his son, Chance, on social media.
"My father, Pastor Son Hyun-bo, was jailed 145 days — no bail, no conviction — simply for preaching Scripture according to his conscience," Chance Son wrote in a lengthy X post. "While every other church shut its doors, the world pointed fingers and asked, 'Why are you still worshiping?' We believe God was pleased with him, even then."
"[T]oday, our family met President Trump. Maybe that, too, is one more sign of His grace," Chance Son added. "Fear no man. Fear no government. Fear God alone. No matter what the world says, may we — and may this become a movement — stand on the truth of Scripture, on moral law, and on the values God has given us."
We are nobody.
— Chance Son (@ChanceSon1226) August 7, 2026
No impressive background. Nothing to our name. And yet God has used us despite our lack.
My father, Pastor Son Hyun-bo, was jailed 145 days — no bail, no conviction — simply for preaching Scripture according to his conscience. While every other church shut its… pic.twitter.com/QXcEOcDkBe
The Chosun Daily, a Korean-language newspaper, reported on the meeting, citing a person connected to the Busan congregation where Son serves as senior pastor. No details of Son’s conversation with Trump had been made public.
Son, pastor of Busan’s World Church, also stopped by the White House Faith Office, a White House unit that works with religious and community groups.
In a video posted to the church’s YouTube channel, Son was quoted as saying: “This is the White House in Washington, D.C. I just finished a meeting with President Trump and am leaving now. I sincerely thank the White House for inviting my family.”
Son has organized rallies against the impeachment of former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, and he has raised concerns with U.S. officials about South Korean legislation, including the Religious Corporation Dissolution Act and the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act.
Three U.S. officials reportedly visited Son’s church in Busan in June.
Those meetings reportedly covered the Religious Corporation Dissolution Act, the Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act, allegations that Son incited insurrection and rules affecting Christian alternative schools.
Son was indicted last year on allegations of illegal electioneering during South Korea’s presidential election. He received a six-month prison term this year, with the sentence suspended for a year.
While Son was held and tried, an official from the U.S. Embassy reportedly went to the facility where he was detained and sat in on the proceedings.
Son spoke about his prosecution and his contacts with U.S. officials during a gathering for prayer that his church convened after his Jan. 30 release from prison.
Son told the gathering that South Korean President Lee Jae-myung referred to him during a New Year’s news conference and directed authorities to look into Protestant churches. Son said the White House invited his two sons soon afterward, and they spent about 90 minutes briefing officials there, while Prime Minister Kim Min-seok found out about the visit two days before leaving for the United States.
Son also told the meeting that South Korea’s deputy prime minister publicly questioned his arrest, that U.S. representatives visited him four times while he was jailed, and that the consul general in Busan sat in on his trial on instructions from the State Department. He said a petition circulated on his behalf drew signatures from 10,000 American pastors.
Church members staged solo demonstrations running from summer into winter, Son said, pointing to a gathering of a million people in October 2025, which he said grew out of sympathy generated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
