More than 4,000 South Korean police officers raided a branch of the Evangelical Baptist Church in Anseong on Wednesday. <br /><br />They were searching for people thought to be linked to the Sewol ferry disaster, particularly those believed to have assisted businessman Yoo Byung-un, who is said to be the owner of the sunken vessel.<br /><br />Yoo is a co-founder of the church running the Anseong compound.<br /><br />He remains at large, but three church members were detained on suspicion of aiding his escape and one for interrupting the search.<br /><br />Hundreds of worshipers sat outside the commune to protest the raid.<br /><br />Yoo Byung-un allegedly controls the Sewol ferry’s operator through a complex web of holding companies linked to his children and close associates.<br /><br />The raid followed the start of the trial of 15 surviving crew members.<br /><br />More than 300 people were declared dead or missing after the ferry sank in April, sparking a police manhunt for Yoo and his sons. They have so far evaded arrest.
