International human-rights organizations are raising concerns over South Korea's treatment of elderly religious leaders and what they describe as a broader pattern of pressure on religious minorities. At a press conference held in Seoul on August 7, 2026, groups including Human Rights Without Frontiers (HRWF), CAP Liberté de Conscience, FOREF, CESNUR, and Bitter Winter called on South Korean authorities to review the detention of 95-year-old Shincheonji Chairman Lee Man-hee and ensure the legal response to religious minorities remains neutral and proportionate.
The press conference, held at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club, addressed issues of proportionality, humanitarian considerations, and due process in pretrial detention. Speakers questioned whether detaining a 95-year-old accused of a non-violent offense aligns with South Korea's international human-rights obligations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention against Torture, which the country ratified in 1990 and 1995, respectively.
Hans Noot, Associate Director of HRWF, said the issues at stake "lie at the heart of democratic society," warning that when religious communities are stigmatized and dissent is treated as a problem to be contained, the consequences "extend far beyond any single group or case." He emphasized the conference was about "defending a principle: that fundamental rights apply equally to all."
Thierry Valle, President of CAP Liberté de Conscience, cited precedents such as Cardinal Joseph Zen's 2022 release on bail in Hong Kong and Vietnam's house arrest for Buddhist Patriarch Thich Quang Do as examples of more humane alternatives. He stressed that the presumption of innocence must prevail.
Michael Langhans, Executive Director of FOREF Germany, questioned whether pretrial detention was necessary given evidence already sufficient for indictment, and whether that evidence was gathered neutrally rather than through a narrative framing the defendant's community as a "sect" or "cult." He argued the case raises broader questions about balancing election protections with constitutional and international guarantees of religious freedom.
Márk Nemes, Deputy Director of CESNUR, highlighted scholarly investigations in Shincheonji congregations in Europe, Argentina, and Australia that found increased hostility toward the movement. He stressed that Shincheonji is a global religious movement, and disproportionate persecution in South Korea affects congregants abroad, whose rights under ICCPR Articles 18 and 19 are inalienable.
Massimo Introvigne, Managing Director of CESNUR and Editor-in-Chief of Bitter Winter, said South Korea "has crossed a worrying line" by arresting Chairman Lee, arguing that international standards like the Mandela Rules would call for house arrest for a 95-year-old accused of a non-violent offense. He called the charges "legally and conceptually overstretched."
The press conference also addressed ongoing concerns about Segero Church in Busan, which reportedly continues to face harassment despite Pastor Son Hyun-bo's release, as well as issues of conscientious objection, a mosque project in Daegu, and religious accommodation in educational settings. HRWF has documented the imprisonment of hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses as conscientious objectors, and critics maintain the alternative civilian service is punitive, requiring 36 months of service in correctional facilities.
The organizations called on South Korean authorities, the media, and the international community to examine these developments with close attention to due process and equal protection of fundamental rights. At the conclusion, scholars signed an official letter calling for Chairman Lee's immediate release. The full proceedings are available on HRWF's YouTube channel.
