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FAQ: Shincheonji Church's Response to Government Actions and Religious Freedom Concerns
TL;DR
Shincheonji Church can leverage this controversy to strengthen its constitutional rights and gain public sympathy by highlighting government overreach and judicial acquittals.
The South Korean government initiated a joint investigation against Shincheonji Church, labeling it a cult before due process, potentially violating constitutional religious freedom protections.
This situation threatens religious freedom for all minorities, as targeting one group sets a dangerous precedent that undermines democratic values and social unity.
Shincheonji Church proposes resolving theological disputes through public Bible examinations rather than political pressure, echoing historical parallels to early Christian persecution.
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The Shincheonji Church of Jesus is protesting the South Korean government's targeting of their religious group, labeling it a "social harm" and "cult" without proper investigation, which they claim violates constitutional religious freedom and due process.
The church objects to President Lee Jae-myung's statement about societal harm from a specific religion, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's use of terms like "cult" and "heresy" to order investigation and eradication measures, and the government's preemptive conclusions before formal investigations.
The church claims violations of Article 20 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which guarantees freedom of religion and the separation of church and state, as well as due process and judicial independence principles.
The church has repeatedly proposed resolving theological disputes through an open, public Bible examination grounded in Holy Scripture rather than emotion or political pressure, but claims there has been no fair response to this invitation.
The church states the government uses abstract labels like "harm" without presenting specific verified instances of damage, notes past judicial processes resulted in acquittals or no suspicion findings, and points to their community service including voluntary disaster relief and record-breaking blood drives.
The church compares their situation to Jesus Christ being branded a "heretic" and persecuted by the religious establishment 2,000 years ago, suggesting history may vindicate them as it did Jesus.
The church states they have never claimed infallibility and are committed to correcting any genuine doctrinal or social errors if specifically identified, maintaining this consistent stance.
President Lee Jae-myung made statements on 12 January 2026 during a meeting with religious leaders, and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok made statements on 13 January 2026 during a Cabinet meeting.
The church questions by what authority a secular government defines and judges religious doctrine, and on what legal basis the highest seat of power provides "investigative guidelines" that undermine judicial independence.
The church suggests these actions may represent a departure from the standards of a democratic state governed by the rule of law and urges the administration to uphold principles of fair, restrained, and constitutional governance.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
