International criticism is mounting over South Korea's detention and prosecution of Chairman Lee Man-hee, the 95-year-old leader of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, and recent public remarks by Minister of Justice Jeong Seong-ho. On June 30, Minister Jeong announced on his social media account that Chairman Lee had been indicted while in detention, writing that 'strict criminal punishment corresponding to its responsibility is inevitable.' He closed the post by quoting Matthew 7:15: 'Beware of false prophets.'
Dr. Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist of religion, has published two articles in the religious-freedom outlet Bitter Winter criticizing the detention and the Minister's remarks. In his first article on June 24, he argued that detaining a 95-year-old religious leader over nonviolent allegations violates international standards, including the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the 'Mandela Rules') and principles of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. He linked the case to that of Han Hak-ja, the 83-year-old leader of the Unification Church, warning of 'a pattern ... in which physical detention is repeatedly used against elderly religious leaders.'
Shincheonji Church responded immediately after the detention, stating that 'Chairman Lee and the church have fully cooperated with every stage of the investigation, including the search and seizure operations,' and called the detention 'in effect a physical punishment imposed on a 95-year-old suspect.'
Dr. Introvigne particularly criticized the timing of Minister Jeong's statement, made on the day of the indictment, as potentially prejudging the outcome. He noted that a public official's use of a Bible verse casting the defendant in a negative light may conflict with the state's principle of religious neutrality. 'Because a sitting Minister of Justice's public statements are likely to be read as more than personal opinion — effectively as the government's official position — such remarks warrant far greater caution,' Introvigne said.
The legal question centers on whether Shincheonji members were coerced into joining the People Power Party, as prosecutors allege an organized forced-enrollment campaign. Shincheonji maintains that members were not compelled by force or directive. Dr. Introvigne predicted the trial will hinge on evidence of coercion, arguing that 'these charges risk criminalizing ordinary civic participation simply because the individuals belong to a religious minority.'
The case is being closely watched internationally as a test of whether South Korea applies the same standards of rule of law and human rights to minority religious groups. Dr. Introvigne described the situation as 'a stain on South Korea's democratic credentials' and 'a matter the world should pay attention to.'
