The Coordination des Associations et Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience (CAP LC), an international NGO with special consultative status at the UN, has submitted a joint written statement to the UN Human Rights Council expressing concern over the spread of discrimination and stigma against members of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, according to a July 9 announcement by the church.
CAP LC focused on the standards by which such matters are assessed, warning that negative perceptions and unverified materials originating in South Korea, if disseminated abroad, could seriously impact public opinion and administrative and judicial decisions in other countries. The group urged governments to base any decisions concerning Shincheonji Church of Jesus on verifiable evidence and clear legal standards.
The statement cited cases in the United Kingdom and German-speaking countries, noting that negative perceptions have led to administrative proceedings and interference with individuals' social lives. In the UK, the Charity Commission rejected Shincheonji's application for registration, describing the church as a cult — a term with no clear legal definition. CAP LC pointed out that using such terms in official procedures can produce strong social stigma.
In Germany and other German-speaking countries, members have faced workplace discrimination amid negative public sentiment driven by certain media outlets and church figures. A critical book published in 2025 by evangelical activists was cited as a major factor deepening discriminatory perceptions.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus said the statement demonstrated that unfounded stigma, if allowed to gain international acceptance, could lead to other religious minorities being judged similarly, underscoring states' responsibility to protect religious minorities' rights.
CAP LC, which has previously raised issues before the UN including the persecution of the Church of Almighty God in China and concerns over Japan's request for a dissolution order against the Unification Church, also highlighted controversy in South Korea over political participation. It criticized claims that church members' party membership amounted to religion-politics collusion, saying political participation should not be grounds for suspicion solely due to religious affiliation.
Amid these concerns, South Korea is investigating allegations related to church members' party membership. On June 24, a court issued an arrest warrant for Chairman Lee Man-hee, aged 95, citing concerns including possible destruction of evidence. On June 29, the government joint investigation headquarters indicted Lee while in detention on charges including violations of the Political Parties Act.
Shincheonji Church of Jesus maintains that the case should be handled according to due process and objective evidence, not social perceptions or political controversy. It also questions the necessity and proportionality of detention, noting Lee's advanced age and cooperation with the investigation.
The church said the cases of discrimination cited in the statement and the South Korean investigation raise a common question: what standards should state authorities apply when dealing with religious minorities? The resolution of these cases will serve as a test of social and institutional trust in the protection of religious minorities, the church said.
