30 elders of Yoido Full Gospel Church said if the pastor voluntarily retires, they will drop all the charges, according to a local media outlet on Tuesday. The elders, who planned to have a press briefing for further accusation, held off the meeting on the same day.
The news report said they planned to further accuse Cho and his wife and to reveal their requirements from the head's family and the church. Cho's side reportedly asked them to have talks first, saying, "The press briefing will not be helpful to the church."
Earlier, the group of the elders sued the pastor for embezzling mission expenses worth 60 billion won and wrongly pocketing 20 billion won in severance pay.
On 20 February 2014, Cho was found guilty of tax evasion, sentenced to three years imprisonment, suspended for five years, and fined the equivalent of almost $5 million.