From Pulpit to Motorcade: How a Mega-Church Pastor Turned LAX Into His Personal Red Carpet

A video that contains protocol for a pastor has exposed an uncomfortable gap between the authority of megachurch leadership and the religious ideal of humility.

The controversy began when freelance journalist Joe Andaloro posted a video on his Instagram account (@joy.of.everything) on January 31, titled “Who Are These People Waiting For?”

Andaloro said he happened upon an eye-catching security and escort scene outside the departure terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and began filming. It was later confirmed that the individual being escorted was Rev. Younghoon Lee, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church in South Korea, known as the world’s largest Christian church.

The video opens with Andalo narrating, “nine officials are here,” adding, “this must be a very important person.” He then notes, “they’re trying to direct people out of the way.”

The footage shows several Asian men in dark suits positioning themselves at the international departures loading zone, preparing to receive someone. Using hand gestures, they blocked vehicles attempting to drop off passengers, effectively taking control of the roadway.

One gray colored pickup truck attempted to stop but was forced to move along under their direction. While the exact measurement was not specified, the area of roadway under control was estimated to stretch approximately 32 feet.

A gray Mercedes-Benz S-Class then arrived. As one of the aides opened the rear door, Rev. Lee stepped out. After exiting the vehicle, he handed white items—appearing to be envelopes—to two men who had been waiting.

Rev. Lee succeeded the late Rev. Cho Yong-gi, founder of Yoido Full Gospel Church, and was appointed senior pastor in 2006. He previously served as senior pastor of Los Angeles Full Gospel Church.

As Lee exited the vehicle, Andaloro asked himself, “Who is that? Is he a president?” When Andaloro continued filming from close range, one of the aides repeatedly demanded that he stop recording.

Surrounded by approximately ten escorts, Rev. Lee proceeded into the terminal. Andaloro shouted, “How was your trip, sir?” but received no response. After completing check-in at the Korean Air counter, Lee shook hands with his aides, who bowed deeply to him.

At that point, the same aide who had earlier tried to stop the filming approached Andaloro again, insisting, “He is a public figure,” while attempting to block the recording. When Andaloro cited the First Amendment and his right to film in a public space, the aide countered that “continuously filming a specific individual is considered harassment.”

In a second video, the confrontation continued as Andaloro explained to bystanders who Lee was. The escorts were seen accompanying Lee all the way to the entrance of the airport security checkpoint.

Based on Andaloro’s commentary, it appears he did not know Lee’s identity at the time of filming and initially assumed the figure was a high-ranking government official, politician, or celebrity.

Rev. Lee had traveled to Los Angeles to attend the “2026 Korea–U.S. Leaders Prayer Gathering,” held on January 26  at the Sofitel Hotel in Beverly Hills. The event was hosted by Yoido Full Gospel Church and sponsored by Gospel Broadcasting Company (GBC). Attendees included LA Consul General Kim Young-wan, LA City Attorney Hydee Soto, and Rev. Jin Yoo-chul, senior pastor of Los Angeles Full Gospel Church.

The two videos have collectively surpassed 1.27 million views and generated more than 1,700 comments. Much of the backlash centered on the church’s decision to directly control traffic at LAX—an airport notorious for congestion—as part of its pastoral protocol.

One commenter identifying as a Korean American in Los Angeles wrote, “Jesus rode a donkey, not a luxury sedan,” adding, “As a Christian, I oppose behavior that treats a pastor like an idol.”

Other comments questioned the necessity of such an entourage, suggesting that “if privacy is so important, maybe he should fly on a private jet,” and criticizing the spectacle of a megachurch pastor being treated “like a head of state.”

The Korea Daily contacted the Los Angeles Full Gospel Church and Gospel Broadcasting Company for comment, but no response had been received.

Andaloro, who has approximately 147,000 Instagram followers, frequently posts videos of public figures encountered in places such as LAX. His past uploads have featured actor Al Pacino, news anchor Wolf Blitzer, and Karina of K-pop girl group aespa.

The video has reignited debate over societal expectations surrounding religious authority and lifestyle. When Pope Francis visited South Korea in 2014, he famously declined an armored limousine and instead used a compact Kia Soul as his official vehicle, intentionally minimizing protocol to convey humility. In Buddhism, revered monks such as Beopjeong and Seongcheol are often cited for having practiced lifelong asceticism, living in modest huts and wearing worn robes.

BY KYEONGJUN KIM   [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]