The Shincheonji Church of Jesus has issued a statement accusing the South Korean government of violating constitutional religious freedom protections through what it describes as targeted persecution. The church claims government officials have preemptively labeled the organization as harmful before any formal investigation has concluded, raising significant questions about due process and the separation of church and state.
According to the church's statement, President Lee Jae-myung stated during a January 12 meeting with religious leaders that "societal harm [caused by a specific religion] has been neglected for too long, resulting in great damage." The following day, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok reportedly used terms including "cult" and "heresy" while ordering joint investigation and eradication measures during a Cabinet meeting. The church argues these statements effectively draw conclusions before investigations have begun, potentially compromising investigative independence and constitutional principles.
The Shincheonji Church maintains that the government's actions violate Article 20 of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, which guarantees freedom of religion and establishes the separation of church and state. "By what authority does a secular government define and judge religious doctrine?" the statement questions, adding that "the criteria for 'orthodoxy' or 'heresy' must never be based on political proximity or secular interests."
This controversy has broader implications for religious minorities in South Korea and democratic governance worldwide. If one religious group can be targeted through executive pronouncements rather than judicial process, similar actions could potentially affect other minority groups in the future. The church's statement warns that "if one religion is targeted today, any marginalized group could be the target tomorrow," suggesting this case represents a test of South Korea's commitment to constitutional protections for all citizens regardless of faith.
The Shincheonji Church has proposed resolving theological disputes through public Bible examination rather than political pressure, though it reports receiving no fair response to this invitation. The organization emphasizes its willingness to correct any genuine doctrinal or social errors if specifically identified, noting that past judicial processes have resulted in acquittals or findings of no suspicion regarding previous allegations. The church points to its community contributions, including voluntary service during national disasters and record-breaking blood drives during supply crises, as evidence of its positive societal role.
This confrontation between religious organization and state authority raises fundamental questions about the limits of government intervention in religious matters within democratic societies. The Shincheonji Church's statement calls for government judgments to be based on facts and law rather than emotional branding, urging a return to "the fundamental duty of serving all people equally." As the situation develops, observers will monitor whether South Korea's institutions maintain the balance between legitimate state interests and protected religious freedoms that characterizes mature democracies.
